Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 870 — page 11: what you’re looking at

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

ee a — 3 from the tube of the weapon, and with the | further object in it. same motion jerked it out of Diego’s hand. Fernando turned toward him, but before he could act Dick had fired at the lamp and they were plunged in darkness and Dick had leaped to another part of the room. Remolon blazed away at the place where he had last seen him, a couple of shots in quick succession, but the only result wus to bring a howl of terror out of his accomplice in villainy, ‘‘ Look out!” yelled Diego, hit me, fool!” ‘Fool yourself, to have allowed this to happen! You ought to be hit!” ‘“Where is he? Don't let him get out of here, for we are two to one against him.” ‘*'Three to one,” spoke up the young wo- man. ‘‘ Take him, for I have locked. the door and there is no escape for him.” ‘*Open the door,” ordered Dick, “or I Wi. open fire on you in a way you won't relish, I've got as good a chance of hitting you as you haveof plugging me. door!" His answer was a shot in his direction. The bullet came within an ace of hitting him, and Dick returned the compliment promptly. ; As it was dark, though, his shot missed, too, and fora moment there was silence in the room, each side seeking an ad vantage. Dick was moving cautiously toward the door, determined that he would get out in some manner or other, once he reached it, but it was destined that he should not es- cape, He thought he was wary and watchful, but he was not wary enough. gs of the men sprung suddenly upon im. Dick fired, having a finger on the trigger, but the bullet did no harm, and in the same second Diego Soslayo was yelling heartily for assistance. It was he that had attacked, and Dick would soon have been able to shake him off, but Fernando came quickly to his aid and Dick was not a match for them both, though for a time he did make it interesting for them. ‘Capture him, Diego! Remolon!” ; So cried the girl, clappinz her hands to oiee Ee them on, that being all she could 0. ‘Give us light,” called Fernando. ‘* Yes, yes; I did not think of it.” The girl was heard busy at the table, and ina few moments the lamp was relighted, minus the chimney. It was an advantage to both sides in the struggle, but as the odds was against Dead- wood Dick he was overcome and his hands were quickly bound. ‘* There, curse you!” cried Diego, for your smartness!” He gave Dick a hard kick as he spoke. ‘“ What's to be done with him?” asked Fernando, ‘* To the jail with him!” cried the girl. ‘* But, that will be to liberate Dick Rad- way.” ‘*T know it; thatis what I want. ‘To the jail with him!” “But, if Radway is freed; that will block our game, for he will stand by Luella,” ‘“Let him. ‘That’s what I want him to do Let her wed him, if she will, and then you will marry me. Hearken, Diego Soslayo.” ** Well?” “7 can play that vole as well as Luella Remolon.” ‘“Yes, yes, no doubt about it; but, we cannot do anything without the aid of our good friend Remolon here.” ‘He will aid you still.” ‘No, itis only on condition that I share with him that he aids me at all, andif you take the place of his sister he will have no * You will Take him, Senor **' That } Deadwood Dick, Jr., in Mexi — Open the* —, Teresa, you stand in your own light.” ‘*Refuse me if you dare, Diego Soslayo!” ‘What will you do?” ‘* Restore the heiress to her rights, and you may whistle.” ‘The two men looked at each other, as if trying to make up their minds what could be done, ‘* What do you say?” Diego asked. ‘You had better give up Luella and come to her terms,” Fernando advised. Deadwood Dick caught a sly signal ac- companying the words, and so understood why Diego fellin with the plan so readily, ‘Well, I'll do it,” Diego cried, ‘*‘ You are a brave girl, Teresa, and you are worthy the love of any man. We'll put this fellow in jail, and after that we'll see you again,” **'To-night?” Tf not to-night, then to-morrow,” ‘“‘ All right, you will find me here, try to deceive me.” ‘* Never fear for that. we mean. Dick.” The two fellows laid hold upon Dick and forced him to accompany them from the room and out of the house, and Dick did not try to resist,” Once out upon the street they led him off in the direction of the jail, where they presently arrived, and they knocked to sum- mon the carcelero, who presently opened the door to them. The moment Remolon mentioned his name, respect was shown to him, for he had political power, as has been hinted be- fore. Just behind these men, with their prison- er, came two gentlemen. ‘‘Tal that you, Remolon?” claimed. ‘« Yes, sir,” the response. recognize you,” ‘*We have come to see what kind of a mistake has been made Here. We have been sent for.” ‘What do you mean?” ‘* Why, our engineer, Radway, has sent for us to come and prove his identity and get him out of the box. There has evidently been some mistake,” These men were two officials Way. * Yes, there has been a mistake,” admitted Remolon, .* We have just got hold of the right prisoner now, and were on the point of setting your man free. There has been a mistake ull around,” They entered, still talking, and the pris- oner was brought forth to be identified. ‘This is Dick Radway, of course,” the railroad men said promptly. There was some formal official process to be gone through, and that done, Radway was set at liberty. “A word with you,” spoke Deadwood Dick, in English. ‘* Well, what is it?” ‘*T am as innocent of this crime as you are, but Pll take your place. I am the man Miss Remolon mistook for you.” ‘Yes, curse you, I thought so. I hope they will hang you as high as a kite for your infernal impudence! Lucky for you you are a prisoner, or [ would call you to account,” ‘You are hot in the head,” said Dick. ‘‘What I wanted to say is, that it was all my fault, and the young lady had nothing to do with it. She is as innocent as a flower of the fleld.. Goand find her at once, for she has something to tell you; I am not able to tell you here,” He referred to the threat he had heard, which he did not care to let out before Diego, | ‘* You have seen her again, then?” ‘I have.” ‘‘ What for? It was surely no accidental meeting this time.” | Don’t What we say, that Come along with us, Deadwood One @xX- ** Ha! I did not of the rail- 6107 re + ae ee jl “On the contrary , it was, but, we were: planning to get you outof here. She will tell you allabout it.” ‘< Well, I don’t know what to make of 7ou, anyhow. I'll doas you say, but the Lord help youif you deceive me, or have deceived me. I'll have your heart out, by the in- fernal!” ‘* Do you know who I am?” ‘*T don't know, and [ little care.” ‘*PDid you ever hear of Deadwood Dick, Junior?” “Great Seott! you Dick!’’ ‘Tam nobody else, I assure you.” ‘Then you are no murderer, I'l) be bound, [ll have you out of here, that I promise you. I'm off,” This man had heard of Deadwood Dick, quite evidently, and at mention of his name he looked at him in a new light. With good cause to be jealous, from his point of view, he also rejoiced, He went away immediately, and Dick was. putin the cell where he had been. What had’ passed between them had been spoken in low tones, so that the chance for its being overheard would be small. As soon as Dick was in his cell, he heard a familiar voice near at hand. ** Hello, Dick!” it called. ‘‘ Hello, Dick!” “That you, .Polly?” Dick answered, ** Where is Pete?” ‘* Pete here; he all right, guzzle some booze!” ‘“‘Hillo, Dicky, boy!” sung out Pete Par- rot’s voice. ‘‘’ They got ye, hey?” “Yes, after a time,’ Dick answered. ‘““And I’ve got a bushel of news for you,. but can’t give you a word of it out loud,” ‘*T don't think thar’s much danger, Dicky; not a consarned one of ’em can talk a word of United States, far as I know. Spit it right.out ef et’s anything I’d orter know.” - Dick considered for a few moments, and finally gave Pete a.sketch of what he had been passing through, and what he had learned. In the mean time Luella Remolon had been at work, From the house of Teresa Papada she went straight to the residence of one of the high officials of the city. : There she applied, and would not be put. off for an excuse, and at last a man came out to learn her name and what she wanted, and the answer she sent was that she was a sister to Fernando Remolon, This message had a magical effect, for she was taken immediately to the oflicial’s. presence. ‘‘Your pardon, Dona,” he apologized. ‘You should have sent in your name at.” onee. Anything I can do to favor ‘Senor Remolon shall remain undone,” ‘*] would ask a favor on my own account, sir,” said Luella, ‘It is all the same; you have only to name it.” ‘* My lover is in jail, having’ been falsely accused,” ‘‘ Ha! and who is your lover?” ‘“Dick Radway, an engineer on the Mexi- can National Railway, Jt is a case of mis- taken identity. Cannot you release him for ° me?” * ‘What is the charge?” ‘Murder. ” | ** Peste/ but that is serious, I dare not do it, until [ have looked into it, my dear. Wait till the morrow; then I will make it my business to investigate it the very first. thing.” ‘*T did not suppose you would do it, sir; but there is one thing you can do,if you will.” ‘* Name it” ‘Give me an order admitting me into the prison, so that 1 may pass the cheerless night. with him, if he is kept there. 1 have some reason to think the real murderer has beem are not Deadwood: Polly wants to tt _