Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 852 — page 10: what you’re looking at

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

-_— | ‘Pete! Pete gone debbil!” . o: » ° j ‘ 4 “9 Deadwood Dick, Jr., at Devil’s Gulch. \ Z Ay ‘‘You have been discharged from Sage’s employ, 1 believe?” ‘* Yes, sir,”’ ‘ For what?” ‘No reason was given. I always attended to my duties, and made lots of money for Sage, It will be some time before he will finda manager tedo as well for him as I have done.” ‘‘[ presume so. How long have you and Nora been intimate acquaintances?” * About a year,” ‘* Did sbe ever mention to you that she had a star-shaped birthmark oa her arm?” ‘Yes, It isa perfect-shaped star, about the size of half a dollar.” ‘* You have seen it, then,” asked Hood ex- citedly, ‘‘on my daughter’s arm?” “Your daughter?” ejaculated, Bradford. ‘*You don't mean to tell me Nora really 2s your daughter? It cannot be possible!” ‘*There can no longer be any doubt of it,” replied Hood, ‘‘ At first, when I met Magic Mose, and received assurance that he had, through no agency of mine but of my deceased wife, found my long-lost child, —my darling Hazel, whom, like the ac- cursed wretch I was, I gambled away, I was incredulous to the last degree, and almost tempted to denounce him as an impostor. But, now, after what he bas revealed to me, and convinced me is true, I know that Hazel Hood is the one you have known as Nora Sage!” “Thope so,” said Bradford, ‘for she is lost to me, while she remains where she is.” ‘‘Don’t fret, young man. She won't be there long. But let me say, I’m getting along in years, yet when I meet Sam Parrot there’s going to be a terrible reckoning; one of us is going to drop. But, good-night, boys. Sce you later. I’m going to see my ehild.” And almost before they were aware the giant gambler was off. It was not until he was out of sight that Mose made a discovery! Polly had forsaken the perch on his shoul- der, and was nowhere to be scen. She had gone so quietly that Mose had not noticed her departure. | ‘* Poll has skipped again!” he said. ‘*T wonder where could she have gone?” ** With Hood, I reckon!” ‘‘Don’t think so. She never goes with strangers—only with me and Pete. Some- thing has called heraway. But, I say, Brad- ford, as Hood is likely to have trouble I de- sire to be inat the death. Are you with me?” ‘* Well, imperils ‘*Then come! strike we must.” So they hastened to close the cottage and then hurried toward the camp. Midway another surprise awaited them. Poll alighted on Mose’s shoulder. ‘‘ Pete!” she screeched, and then flew away. What does that mean?” asked Bradford, his curiosity greatly excited. ‘It means trouble,” replied Mose, ‘It would not surprise me if Pete was being lynched.” ‘ «You don’t mean it?” ‘*Ido; so come, let us hurry,” and the two men started on a run. 3 When they reached the main street of the camp, they beheld a sight that many would not care to see. | Opposite Nigger Jim’s place was a big oak tree with long, outspreading branches. By the neck, and to these brauches, hung two swaying bodies. | One was Pete Parrot’s and the other was that of Happy Harry Harris. | On the top of Pete’s head was perched Polly! ‘Poor Polly!” yes, I reckon so. Anything that ora will draw me to her side.” We will strike togerther if she screamed, ti Ad . i “4 yoth< ~ w ’ ( ~~ +? site “Sp! as p ee ar \ Pe fveiy ‘ ? 7 ~ ne - 4 a FL We pT - od ais.“ 48 ,* : ; . . - . r > - Se * , a wee ' j; ¥ rae ,* J ‘ a Es gvio< , on ot “ “ ‘ / ii lg ’ : r iatt - is ¥ wt aie : a ore 4 , =? ae i ae el - v) “ A . 4 Py . A y +" a) 4 Nay he. 7 A as Ne A > " + a OF eer ree os i i “Poor. ehiat. iy e, if he has one?” An angry crowd surrounded the tree, hoot- ing and yelling like a pack of maniacs. Evidently they had just been strung up. ‘“‘It’salynch picnic, sure as you live!” cried Mose. ‘‘Give me your revolver.” Bradford complied, and taking careful aim, Mose fired. | The strands of the rope that held Pete Parrot by his neck were cut and the body dropped to the ground. Another shot and the marvelous aim of Mose did as much for Happy Harry. ‘* Now, charge!” cried Mose. ‘‘ We must save them!” Burt Bradford, although a plucky man, hesitated. ‘‘] reckon it won’t pay us to be rash!” he observed. ‘‘How do you mean?” demanded Mose. “‘T am gure you are not a coward!” Neither Iam, but I don’t believe we can fight that gang. Two against fifty is too much!” ‘* Yet, the Burton Bradford faction are going to elect you for mayor, I hear. You can go forward and stop this business. We cannot see them hung.” ‘* No, I wouldn't like to; ac I am afraid my influence wouldn’t go far enough to do them any good.” **T think it would,” insisted Mose. ‘*So do I,” added Hill, who hitherto had remained silent. ‘‘ ’m with you, Mose!” So they rushed forward, firing as they ad- vanced. The crowd that had lynched Harris and Pete scattered but returned no fire. Mose was first to reach the bodies, but Burt and Hill were close behind him. Happy Harry was dead; he had evidently been strangled, as soon as pulled up. Pete was not dead, for his heart still beat. ‘*Quick! get some brandy, or whisky!” cried Mose, to Burt. ‘‘ He can be saved yet I think!” Burt ran into Nigger Jim’s and quickly returned with a goblet full of Jim’s best liquor. | This was fed through Pete’s lips by de- grees, and by degrees consciousness began to returns Soon the sufferer opened his eyes and looked around him, He glanced at the fragments of rope over- head, and then quietly removed. the noose from about his neck, and during all this pro- ceedure, had said not a word, But, when he had removed the rope, he looked up, and remarked: | ‘“‘Tt won’t work! They can’t palm off any collars like that on me, not if I am acquaint- ed with myself. Hello, Mose! What aire ye doin’ heer?” ‘*T rather opine we’ve been fetching you back to life!” replied his pard, ‘* Well, darn my socks ef that ain’t kind of you. Do as much for you, next time they string you up! Where is Poll?” ‘*Here she is, and she was the means of our coming to your rescue,” replied Mose. ‘* Bully for Congress, Hey, Poll?’ ‘You bet!” said Poll. cake.” ‘* Well, be gosh, she shall have all she can swaller!” When he arose and found Happy Harry silent in death, Pete Parrot, for the first time in many years, probably, burst into tears, ‘‘Poor Harry! He came to my rescue, and this is the result. Darn me if I would not have had it different, for Harry was a noble fellow. I knew him before I ever knew you, Mose, and under circumstances that give Me occasion to mourn his death.” ‘‘By the way, boys, what’s to be done with poor Harry? We can’t leave him lay- ing here. Shall we take him home to his ‘Polly want : oll! ITallus knew she’d go to- ‘‘Surely. I know where his house ig,” « said Burt Bradford. will now be left upon her own resources,” which are mighty slim, I reckon ” ‘Well, I'll give youatip on one thing!” suggested Pete Parrot. ‘* My brother Sam has signed his own death-warrant. He’s hung me twice, and, now, it’s his turn to swing. We will carry the corpse home; then Tallow we will make a descent on Sage’s house, eh?” ‘‘Just what we will do,” replied Magic Mose, with decision. So they carried Harry’s body home to his wife, Then the poor woman was nearly frantic, when she saw the dead brought in. Gambler though he had been, Happy Harry Harris had always been a good anda devoted husband, Fortunately, they had no children, to now be a burden on the widow, Expressing their deepest sympathy for widow, the party took their leave. The night was now well advanced toward morning; the moon had gone down. ‘“T wonder if Sam is still up?” queried Pete, as the party moved toward the Sage residence, ‘He will not be likely to be in bed, after stringing up two men, or causing them to be strung up—at least I shouldn't ’think so,” remarked Bradford. ‘It wouldn't surprise me a bit,” said Magic Mose, ‘‘if the bird has flown.” ‘“Nor me, either,” said Hill. ‘‘ There’s so many fires against him that I don't ancy he will find it healthy to remain here, for awhile. He’s no fool.” , ‘Moreover he is a coward!” asserted Burt Bradford. ‘‘'The question is, how are we going to get into the house?” said Pete. Hill spoke up: ‘‘ You’d better find out, first, if Sam’s in the house. If we were to force an entrance, we might run into an ambush,” ‘‘That’s so,” agreed Bradford, for I saw some of Sage’s heelers coming this way.”’ ‘* How are you to tell whether he’s in the house, or not?” ‘‘T can tell,” said Hill. ‘‘ He bas a stable, a little distance, where he keeps three fine saddle-horses, it being customary for him, his wife and Nora to take a morning gallop. If the horses are still there, the chances are that the old man is at home. If they are not he’s vamosed. You all wait here, and I will go and see.” : “$ pe so, and be lively about it, for, if the have gone, we must follow them,” decid Mose. ‘*You bet we will!” averred Pete Parrot. ‘You bet!” echoed Poll. Hill hurried away, while Mose and his companions( sat down on the grass to await his return, ‘In case they have gone, where would they be most likely to go?” Mose asked of Burt Bradford. ‘‘T think to Virginia City,” replied Burt, ‘‘as that is the nearest railroad point; and be- nes the old man has money in the bank, ere,”:~ . “T see. Then, if thay bave gone at all, it is more than probable they are there, if not here., How far is it to Virginia City from ‘here?” ‘* About ten miles, I reckon.” : ‘‘Then it would not take them long to get — there, even though they have not"got much a start.” | ‘*'No; we’d have to hurry.” Magic Mose turned to Pete. ‘Was Samuel Sage, or whatever his name ae is, paeane at your lynching?” he asked. . es. »”» : ape ten minutes Hill returned. reckon they’re gone,” he announced, eee "tho ys ‘* for the horses are gone.” ; ty tine ‘“‘That settles it,” said Burt Bradford, ; , ; syte’ ° . ‘ arr - 4 - : > i - pa —~, * Pes } : . ~~. wv, : : een _> = 7) i p14 “i eogl Re - <a ya / Z , S| \ | a@ « wt ~ COMIEDC JiINS ne on? P > ae - | = se y . - ‘3 i = fe ey poe ABA “Fee i a hay “Poor woman! she | ae » ; — or i” y > ; " =: 4 at 'y a4 - — sf ¥ 7 =a . et Fs .. bd ‘3 : - = . i Age: a = it's) 2% 4 ~~