Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 858 — page 13: what you’re looking at

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

: . S Re 5 ) . 't « ‘ . ~~ * 5 A ‘ { { A secof Here, first, came this other woman, a companion of Bad_ Bess, called .Miggs. She declared the truth to me, and threatened to expose it unless | paid her large money. Right on top of her visit you Boe come, with the same information.” “Great heavens! it is more than proof.” - **But, young man,” to Deadwood Dick, “ what is to be done?” f ‘‘“Care must be tuken of this woman, Moll Miggs, first of all, so that she has no chance to tell what she knows.’ _ You would not suggest killing her!” - Dick smiled, Well, hardly,” he answered. ‘would get the papers she holds, and then get some hold upon her and warn her to , make any disclosure if she dare.” ‘But, | know nothing against her that would scare her,” ‘¢ Tt will not be hard to learn something, I imagine; her record is probably not clean, and a general threat would have the de- sired effect, I have no doubt. I will attend to that part of it.” ‘¢ And what about the poor child?” ‘‘She must never know the truth.” ‘‘ How would you keep it from her?” _ ‘By never letting her know who her mo- ther was. Let that be buried out of sight. ‘Her father was a man of honor, and has left [mee property that -will enrich her. The se “pe never come out,” Clavering was standing with bowed head. nas What say you?” asked Harding, turning ‘to “Would that they had killed me last ight,” the sad reply. _**Then, if this story is true, you will not marry the woman you love?” ‘* Would you, in my place?” There was silence. It was Deadwood Dick who broke it. — * One thin ou must remember,” he said, thoughtfully: ‘*The-’mother of this | Knows lady was net the Bad Bess who was nown here, any more thar the same woman ' | was Bad Bess when she became the wife of - |David Daws. Her fall came a year after the birth of ber child.” Clavering had looked up while Dick spoke, ‘and when he ended, clasped his band heart- | iy, exclaiming: ~ _. “ God' bless you ‘for what you have said. ig I I see the matter in a new light, now. The 4 be must be buried, and the secret sealed wih A ourselves.”’ _ ou are just,” said Mr. Harding. eghould I throw my adopted daughter out i ‘into the street for her mother’s sins? I never new who her parents were; I love her for 4 perself. T still love her.” A sob ee heard at that instant, a door _ opened, and a woman staggered into the , the room, falling at Mr. Harding’s feet. _, It was his wife, | “Mary!” he gasped. ~ ye ‘Ss Henry! Henry! Dare 1 look for mercy?” 7 ‘‘In Heaven’s name, what do you mean? ' Get up, wife, get up!” : f ‘No! no! not till you have fieard my con- _ fession. I have deceived you all’ these ti Neve me?” % SY Gee yes; I was afraid to confess to you: Sire but, now, having +) throw myself upon your mercy. Bad . that vile Bi nag was my own sister!” a a ou” is true, true! J] induced her to let me "take her child, when I first discovered she Bs and deceiving you, I took it under sare of Elmertine, ‘knowing well whose “You were afraid to tell me the truth or . x ¥ ' Bess, 7 ot Nes, es though God knows that I yl i pantedt 5 do so. I was afraid you would | _ throw ve out upon the street, ashamed to i bad nger.”’ F-' bes | <a did it out of mercy for the in- + 24 ‘> * - - ¥ ; “oe % . <a o~3 4 if A t rt > ; “ae Veil me b. , 2 .« - Te : ’ , - a So, -, vt Ik _ es on, L- ba. ‘’ ” NE he, Fe ee at < 5 x 7 ' { Ds a ‘ j q “ “ah »f . : ‘ é “ « ; ’ bao Y - - i i > he - o .— rd é +o” ‘s 4 Ws - - 4 gf ee Taek eS at A ae Sie ie ae ap eg) Raa aes Fob nt GY tae J ‘a as ez B®. . se a" 4 . ree i] . a or s Ss bo . “ewe ¥ ie Coke iy $ as _ c > ee avr heard what you said, [I “It appears to me to in overwhelming | nocent babe who could not REIS Ga thothier’e | its mother’s ' downfall?” Moll ) | | | | | ‘« Yes, yes; that and that only. Will you forgive me? Will you still call me wife, knowing the truth, that that woman was my sister?” ‘‘T will and do. Get up, Mary. Claver- ing, you see itis not you alone called upon to forgive. Wemust forget and bury this secret, and Etta must never know a word of it.” ‘‘She never shall know, through me, I will make her my wife, spite of all. Since there is no longer any doubt ubout the mat- ter, I accept the truth as itis, and abide by ‘ But I it. " eg Good for you!” exclaimed Deadwood ic “You bet!” It was Poll, who thrust her head out of Dick’s pocket at that moment. This created a diversion for a few mo- ments, cheering up the saddened faces, and after that a little time was spent in arranging plans, Dick and Clavering were about ready to take their leave, when a servant opéned the door, a frightened look upon her face and a note in her hand, and said hastily to Mr. Harding: “Oh! sir! Miss Etta has gone out, and she gave me this to hand to you. She seemed ray and [I think you had better run after er With a look of alarm, Mr. Harding opened the note to read it. CHAPTER XI. THINGS GETTING TANGLED. As Mr. Harding read the note his face paled, and he took hold of a chair for sup- port. His wife, filled with alarm, demanded to know what was in the message, and the others were equally anxious to learn, ‘‘She knows all,” Mr. Harding gasped. “That is to sa she heard what passed be- ‘tween that wi cked woman and myself, and she has taken herself awa ; feeling that she is not worthy of our love,” ‘‘The poor child! We must find her im- mediately, before harm comes to her, or be- fore she can do harm to herself. Where has she gone? Does she threaten to do away with ber life? Great heavens! asif she was the only one who has to bear the shame— But, she does not know.” ‘She declares she will give herself to Noel Namara, no longer worthy of you, Clavering, whom she loves.” ‘‘Never!” cried Clavering. ‘‘ She is an angel high above him, even yet. This is som thing for which she is not to be held ac- countable, and for which she shall not suffer. Come, Dick, and we’}l save her.” “With you, with all my heart,” answered Dick. ‘‘ Not only for your suke, but be- cause I must ‘rescue her and restore her to the half-sister who is waiting to receive her with open arms. Come on, A few words more, and the pair left the house, Mr, Harding going out a few moments later to search in another direction. In the mean time there was excitement in Deming that morning. A murder had been discovered. The body of a man had been found by the early risers, lying in the street, with a knife- wound in the back. It was not long before the man was re- cognized. : t was no other than Towser Terrel. Among the first on the spot was Noel Namara, a popular man of Deming, but one whose means of support were questionable. _, Now, the officers had been informed of the crime, the body had been removed, and detectives were at Bon in search of a ole that might lead to the arrest of the sla Namara was the man who discove ‘this, Wks Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Death-Hole ath-Hole Hustle, 138 It was about the time when Dick and Clavering left the Harding residence. ‘Look here, Sheriff Raleigh,” he said to- the sheriff of the county, who was on hand, ‘Here seems to be a trail of blood.” This Sheriff Raleigh was a man most easily’ described by saying that he might have been mistaken for Buffalo Bill, at first glance, He was a man of xbout the same build, and wore: his hair and beard in similar style. “There is xa drop, sure enough, Namara,” the sheriff admitted. ‘' But, where is the: next one?” Namara looked around for some time, both up and down the street, and at last discovered another drop. ‘Here it is!” he cried exultingly. ‘* This, is the way, and now we are on the right trail. Let’s follow and see where it will lead us, if it don’t peter out.” ‘Certainly, that is ( our duty,” the sheriff agreed, They passed slowly down the street, a. few men with them who had _ heard their remarks, and in due time they came upon another drop of blood, proving that they were on the right track. Thus they continued on, and the further they went the more frequent the drops be- came, ‘“We must be following a wounded man,” suggested the sheriff. “True enough. He must have had & scrimmage with Towser before he got Se best of the fight and stuck him.” The truth of the matter was, wey were following the trail of blood that had been left by Pete Parrot, on his way to the home of Henry Clavering. The walking had caused Peté’s head to bleed afresh, and by the time he had ogi the house he was leaving a drop at every’ step, almost, and when the sheriff and Na- mara reached there they eould plainly see: where the trail of blood stopped, ‘* Henr excluimed Namara. ‘Tt is, sure enough. But, you don’t sup. pose jie did the deed, do you? lf he had had trouble with the fellow, and killed him, he would have told the constable.” ‘Maybe so,’ sneered Namara. ‘‘I bap- en ‘to know that he and Towser were fob riendly, and Clavering had threatened him, asIcan prove. Of course ‘it is nothing to me, but now it all comes to mind.” ‘If we find Clavering wounded, that will be proof.” ‘“* Certainly.” ‘Well, we'll lose no time in seeing him — and finding out what this blood means, any- how,” They ascended the steps, and the sheriff ~ knocked, The door was opened by Clavering'’s mMan- | servant, and Raleigh asked if Clavering was; in. ‘* No, sir; he is out,” the answer.. . “Gone to see a doctor?” asked Namara. + I do not know Mr. Clavering’s. business, “Well, we'll come in, anyhow, for I am here on business,” said the sheriff, ‘* Just. show us up to his room, will you?” The servant knew Sheriff Raleigh, of course, and could offer no objection, for he had always thought his master and the sher- iff were on frien Iv terms, The sheriff had been in the house many times before, and he led the way up-stairs. and went straight to Clavering’s own room, er door of which stood: slightly ajar, and ¥ tered. OTe sight that met his gaze surprised him. | Namara, entering right behind him, was still more amazed, and his face sicht of the man on the bed.. wo other men had entered with him. | At first the pard of Deadwood Dick was. asleep, but opening his ehey ll these menin the room i and see- ing a ete leaped. * Fai waa UE Finty os ~ } . ee ere av - ; Clavering’s house, by heavens!’” — \ < «© paled at - : 2 : > “2 e - a ~ ‘ ; * ¢ ’ ‘ 7 yy 1 ‘ = "" * Se * o wre = ro > - en hep ad ies