Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 870 — page 12: what you’re looking at

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

~ “f~". - ; ec = a “ } Sr a Pa : : bath d a. « . . 7] . my | pe) - : ! » * 4 oF j . | a found, and in that case he will be freed, of E course.” | , age ‘*To be sure. Yes, 1 will gladly do that for you, for 1 can see you are very much in earnest. Here, I will write it immediately.” he And so he did. <2 Luella thanked him heartily when she re- ie ceived the precious slip of paper, and speedi- ly took her leave. She did not go at onceto the jail, but hastened home, where she remained for quite a little time, and when she came forth she | was in male attire. The disguise was perfect, and® she looked like a handsome Mexican youth of eighteen, She now made her way to the prison, and applied for admission. ** What's wanted, at this hour?’ growled the guard. It was, by the way, now past the hour of midnight, and this was an unusual thing. To be sure, not a great while had elapsed since the exchange of prisoners had been son. made, but the guard had settled down fora ae nap and was angry at being disturbed. es ‘*T want the governor of the prison,” was -~-—s the answer, in a positive manner, “ Well, you won't get him, at this hour. pape Go away with you.” Br yh} ‘‘Tf you want to keep your place you will call him.” is y what authority do you demand it, nly gir?” eens - Take a look at that, and Do ‘not keep me waiting here, for, it may not be pone necessary to call the governor.” ee She handed her pass through the opening le ‘in the strong door, and an exclamation escaped the jailer the moment he saw the signature and without delay he opened the door, ** Your pardon, craved. “If you first place, it would have been all right. ag You have only to command me.” iss ‘*Take me at once to the cell of the man | accused of murdering the beggar.” The man looked again at the written order, ‘to be sure. It was all right; it was on official paper, the signature was genuine, and it ordered explicitly that the hearer was to be accord- ed the utmost favors. ‘*Come right this way,” the man said, ‘taking up his light and leading along one of _. ‘the passages. ‘‘ Right this way. It may be a little out of the usual, but the governor won’t thank me for waking him and so ll ‘take it upon myself, since 1 know the order is genuine enough. And here we are, sir.” ou will see. ae pardon!” he humbly ad only said that in the CHAPTER X. ‘THE ESCAPE, THE TRAPPERS TRAPPED. eae As he said this, the demandadero de una ~~ -¢areel—which is Spanish for *‘ turnkey ”— _ . stopped before one of the cells. — * aa, 68 eadwood Dick, hearing them coming, i sand recognizing the voice of the disguised tr young woman, was on the alert, ready to _. take any cue or advantage of anything that might happen. a ‘* This is where he is?’-*the supposed young mee pore: ee | . “Dick?” she called. ‘‘ Dick?” ee ‘Suddenly Dick Bristol recalled what had happened at the house where he had last seen _ this girl, and he believed she was there to rescue not him, but her lover, Her broth. | _ er had aroused her suspicions of Dick's good call far. =. ssn ** T am here, . | * Dick answered, imitating the -woice of Dick Radway. ss ry? - d -; “i a & ~ ° **Good! Iam here to rescue you. Jailer, open this door, and let this man go free, if ; ig you value your life.” | through the grating in the door the gleam of | & revolver, tn yy . ” and saw the jailer spring back and heard him exclaim; Wien ar oS -_* “* ea - . = ~ : 7 " ‘What! You have come here with treach- 9? ‘* You saw the order, did you not?” * Yes: but—” ‘‘Did it not direct you to grant me any favor I might ask?” ‘Tt did; but it cannot mean this, for the senor has not power to order the release of a prisoner.” ‘‘ Maybe not, but 7 have, sir ‘‘T cannot obey you—” ‘* You will obey or die; take your choice.” “ Carrambo! you are likely to find your: self ina cell. Come out of here with me in- stantly.” : Dick beard the click of the weapon, now. ‘‘Open that door, and open it instantly,” the girl’s voice sternly ordered, ‘I give you just half a minute to decide. If I have to kill you lcan then doit myself with your keys.” There was no doubting her intention, and the terrified jailer had to comply, and did. He opened the door of the cell, and in an instant Deadwood Dick leaped upon him. The jailer was a strong man, but Dick was stronger and much more active. The lantern went out in the struggle, and the corridor was only dimly lighted by the rays from a distant lamp. ‘“Give up!” cried Dick, still imitating the voice of Dick Radway. ' ‘‘ You'll be killed if you don’t! Iam going out of here, if I have to leave you with your throat cut!” He had no intention of killiug the fellow, as the reader will understand; he only want- ed to terrify him, and he succeeded, ‘* 1 surrender!” the jailer gasped. my life!” | ‘* All right, I spare it if you remain quiet.” Dick had taken a revolver from the fel- low’s hip, and now bound his hands secure- er >? ‘* Spare y. This done, he took the keys from his hand and opened the door of the cell in which Pete Parrot was confined, and Pete came forth immediately. i | ‘By thar tarnel, Dicky, boy,’’ he cried, ‘‘ but this hyer 7s hansum! We owe a heap to this young feller, I kalkylate. Young man, you hev the ondyin’ regards of Pedro Papagayo!” | he em se ““ Valgame Dios!’ cried the girl, in her natural voice. ‘‘ Are you not Dick Radway ?” turning upon Dick, ‘No, lady,” Dick answered. ‘‘ Iam here in his place. I’m just as greatly obliged to you, however,” | | ‘‘ What have I done, then? Where is my lover? Youare the man who would have allowed him to remain here to save your own neck, as my brother said, and I have risked all/to save you!” ‘*You have done a good deal,” assured Dick. | ‘*Bet yer life!’ chipped in Polly, from Pete’s shoulder, ire ‘‘ You shet up!” cried Pete. ‘‘ Come, let’s vamos—that is ter say, git out of hyer.” ‘Tf we can,” added Dick. ‘‘I hear other voices, now, and no doubt the place is alarm- ed, for we have been rather noisy.” A door was heard to clang, and a voice called for the keeper. “ey ‘¢‘ Answer!” cried Dick, presenting his re- volver to the man’s head. ‘‘ Answer, and say all is well!” | 7 | This the fellow shouted. ‘‘ What are you doing there, and what is the noise about?” was the demand. “Tell ’em a man is sick,” ordered Pete Parrot. ‘‘ Tell ’em it’s all right, and you can ’tendtoit.” | | This, too, was shouted, but it did not have the desired effect. — | Steps were heard coming, lights gleamed slong the corridors, and Deadwood Dick hurriedly whispered. | | ‘“ We are in for it, and must fight. We must shoot, but not to hit, for that will make a Deadwood Dick, Jr., in Mexico. er Cae nr ee ee ee ee ee eee te, eee. OD ee en ee ee ee ee ee eee us trouble. We can scare them off, if they think we mean it,’’ ‘‘No fear o' my shootin’, with nothin’ ter shoot with,’ said Pete. ‘*Take the turnkey’s stick,” said Dick. This Pete did quickly. The men were seen, now, and there were two of them. | Dick, Pete, and the young woman in dis. guise stood behind the open door of Dick's cell The bound keeper was lying behind them, and all the approaching men could see was the open cell door, till they were close upon it. ; In a moment they were at hand, when out sprung Dick and Pete, followed by Luella, who realized that this was her only hope of getting out of the trap she had set for herself unwittingly “ Fuera !/” cried Pete Parrot.‘' Out of the way! Weare going out of here if we have to go out over your dead bodies! Look ovt for yourselves!” : ¢ Forward he sprung upon sthem, with his heavy stick, Dick and Luella right behind him. The two men dropped their lanterns and raised their clubs. Pete knocked one over with'a quick blow, and the other was seized and run off in the direction of the doors, struggling and shout- ing ) Now the whole jail was in an uproar, and the prisoners were setting up cries of vari- ous kinds, everything adding to the confu- sion of the moment. It was an exciting ex- perience. ‘*Sock et to ’em!”’ cried the parrot on Pete’s shoulder. ‘‘ Sock et to ’em!” “You shut your head and hold fast, feathered cuss,” ordered Pete. ‘‘ Wo’ll see to this part of et.” “You bet! Polly wants whisk! We'll take a booze on this, you bet!” — They were now at the door, which Dick opened with the keys he had taken from the turnkey, and shoving back the man they had captured they locked him in and made off. | Turning the nearest corner, they hurried away at a running pace, and in a moment saw ahead of them a procession crossing the street they were in, something in connec- tion with the festival occasion. It took them Sut a few moments to fall in with the crowd, and they were for the time being safe. | Parrot. ‘‘We must find and rescue that girl,” answered Dick. ‘¢ And how is that ter be done?” ' ‘*This lady must aid us.” ‘*T can’t do that,” Luella declared. ‘‘I must get home as soon as I dare drop out of this procession. . VTS “You must aid us,” urged Dick. ‘If you will do so, we will stand ready to_de- fend your lover against his foes, when chance offers.” ‘* He has escaped them now.” ‘Yes, but they have not given him up,” ‘¢ What can I do?” ) : ‘* We must decoy Teresa Papada.” ‘And how can wedo that? And what for?” turned and headed in the very the jail, | a A ie: ‘‘Now what’s ter be done?” asked ~Pete : o LU A ' ‘ : © = d . ") . ~» y ) 7 - . | + 7 ee tg, - s ‘ , . - . — .-y, a wae "3 <4 ' ~ ; 7. - } . hy ) » 7 ag , . J _* >, .. " 4 * . ‘gh ‘ a4 . vn 7 \ - : > 2 eae’ A728 ji =8 to 7 = i’ ¢ a ‘‘She must be made to believe her pris- AS aa oner hgs escaped.” Vives. oo ae ‘She will know better.” So {ee ea Re ‘* No, she will have a doubt.. Hearken: © meee «| Rees You must go to her house in haste, and say CA RR the young woman has got away, Say no | ets: | i more, but hasten off and leave her in doubt. iene We will do the rest, and you can then go home."’ steed Fs et cet a ae “Well, I will do that.” yh 5) > Dea “Ttis so arranged, and we ‘will drop out ae presently.” Pehl A ae ae To their alarm, however, the procession = PeCUOn, Ge ae