Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 870 — page 13: what you’re looking at

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

I a Tie ali =. a Ss 6 ee eh —z ts ; : iM ; . { =. ¥ Deadwood-Dick. Jr Here might be trouble, and Dick was on the point of saying they would drop out at once, when some policemen were seen hurrying along. ‘* It won’t do,” he said to Pete, ‘* We’ll have to stay in line now, If they recognize us, we must make a fight for it and lope off on the tall run. If they shut us up again, weare dumped.” ** You bet.” This was not the parrot, but Pete himself, He had put the hird out of sight in his pocket, As they approached the jail, they saw that all was excitement around it, A crowd was there, and the jailers and some policemen were in front talking away in a greatly-excited manner, The procession passed along, the music play- ing and the paraders singing, and Dick and Pete sung as loudly as the rest, This was the ending of the night’s festival, Persons dropped outof the line as they came to their places of abode, now, and with a cheer- ful ‘‘ a Dios!” entered their houses, Finally Dick and Pete, with the disguised young woman, left the line at the junction of another street, and with the same cheerful fare- well, and good by, took another direction, As soon as they were safe, Luella led the way, ‘* Here we are,’ shesaid finally. ‘‘I will now ruv abead and deliver the message,” Dick recognized the street, and knew the young woman was playing them no trick, since there was no good reason why she should do so, and he and Pete fell back, Luella made a great noise at the door of the house, There was a quick response, proving that Teresa bad not yet retired, It was she who opened the door, and Luella managed to keep her face from being plainly seen as she said: ‘* { am sent to tell you that the young woman has escaped. That is all; man said you would understand what ismeant, No, no, l know noth- ing more; 1 have done my¥ errand,” Teresa tried to question, but was shut off in this way, aud Luella quickly left the docr and was gone, Teresa called to her to stop, but it was useless, ewer next moment the other was, out of sight. Dick and Pete, in hiding, saw Teresa stamp her foot impatiently, For some seconds she stood in doubt, and then she turned back into the house quickly, leaving the door ajar. ‘That means she’s coming forth,” whispered Dick, ** Et jest do, pard,” agreed Pete, They were not mistaken: in a few seconds the young woman reappeared, with a shawl wrap- around her, and hastened away from the ouse, Dick and Pete followed with care and cau- tion, They had now to be doubly careful, for they must not lose sight of their game nor awaken the suspicion of the police. Teresa was a swift walker, and led the way rapidly outof the city by the shortest course, stopping finally at the door of a rather miser- able looking abode on the outskirts, Here she knocked. Dick and Pete ran forward and got behind the house, The house was of Mexicanstyle, but adjoining it was one of American archifecture, This building had a low, sloping shed in the rear, and it was but the work of a moment for the two men to mount this and creep up to the roof of the house adjoining it. This was flat, and withaleap anda swing they were upon its top, and could look over into the interior court, By this time voices were heard, and the girl had been admitted. A light was seen below ane from an interior window, and Dead wood Dick dropped down within, after a brief con- sultation with Pete. But, no sooner down than something unex- pected happened. There was a growl, a snarl, a terrific bark, al- most ali in one sound, and a big dog leaped at Dick’s throut, Dick had had no warning, and was taken ata disadvantage, but he was on the defensive im- mediately and grappled with the brute with all his strength, one band closing upon its lower aw. : Loud voices were immediately beard, a door was heard to open, and out rushed two men, one Rearing a light, The dog was tearing at Dick with its claws, ripping his clothes and threatening to dis- embowel him, but Pete Parrot was to the rescue as quickly as he could think and act. ee Down he Jeaped, caring nothing for the dis- tance, and as be came down he dealt the dog a blow With his club that knocked it insensible, The two men, surprised out of their wits, al- most, stood and stared, In the same moment Deadwood Dick wheeled upon them, a revolver in his hand, ordering them to put up their hands, As he dia this there camea shot from the window, and Dick reeled back and fell up against the interior wall for support, the two men instantly throwing themselves upon Pete Parrot, There was immediately a fierce struggle, but it was of short duration, and in a few seconds Pete received a blow that rendered bim insensi- ble and he and Dick were in the bands of their foes, The tables bad turned upon them, and they were in a trap. It might fare ill with them now. CHAPTER XI, A NEW ACTOR APPEARS ON THE SCENE, JUST now, however, there was a new actor in the play. At the time when Dick and Pete were over- come, and were made prisoners, a face was look- ing down into the interior court of the house from the roof, It was the face of a Mexican, a young man and good-looking, and his eyes had a gleam in them that bode ill for one party or the other upon whom he was gazing in the court beneath. If the friend of the two captors, he did not make his presence known, and if bis sympatbies were with the prisoners, he evidently hesitated about attacking their captors, He was armed, for a weapon was in bis grasp, but for some rea- son he took no part. While he hesitated, the inner door was thrown suddenly open again, and two men sprung into the arena, These were armed, and they glared at the two men before them, We know the pair, having seen them before, They were Diego Soslayo and Fernando Re- molon. For a few moments the four did nothing but Jare, as if neither side was anxious to at- en and Fernando was the one to break the si- ence, ‘Is it peace or war?” he asked. ** Are you friends or foes?” was demanded. ~ We prefer to be friends, if you will allow “Then let it be peace, since ‘friends need not war against one another,” All put up their weapons, and as they did so Teresa Pa pada came out from the interior, ** Dogs!” shecriec, ‘* You have followed me here!” ‘You have guessed aright,” answered Fer- nando, smiling. ‘*‘We played the detective upon you in order to learn where you have hid- den arny, aye fbb ell, little good may it do you, then,” ** Ab! but now we "eh Acts ** You Jie!” “If we don’t, we are on the right track, Your friends here must tell us, for they surely know.” “Did they know they would not tell you, dogs!” ‘* That’s not a very loving name,” said Diego. “You have almost turned my love to hate against you.” % Ifthat is the case, you will not insist upon my marrying you.” ‘* Even so, my hatred will make me all the sa bitter against the woman you desire to wed. ** But, we have come to rescue another,” now said Fernando, ‘‘ You must not forget that she is my golden prize, my pretty Teresa, If ou cannot wed Diego in peace, suppose you and embark?” She spat at him fiercely for answer. ‘Then you won’t agree to that, eh? Well, Pll use my best influence with my friend Diego in your bebalf, But, there seems to be some misunderstanding here, for it is Inez Damasco we are in search of, while Luella Remolon is your rival, Can’t we come to terms?” ever!” ou gain noth by holding Ineza oner.™ g ing by ae pris- he is the only weapon! hold over your = ag the only means [ have of forcing eed you. “Then you think you hold the w sisi te y y he winning ** T know I do,” is?” Will you do us the favor to explain how it ’ ' ., 1In Mexico. enn neeeeereeee reer errr nnn nnncnncec re tthe eis ptt et tg , eee 4 NN 13 ‘* ‘Yes, I will. In the first place we are three against two, if it comes toafight, I can shoot as good as the next one, and the chances are in our favor. Then, i have already done a work for which you ought tothank me,” ‘s What is that?” ‘¢ T have been the means of clearing the whole road for vou, if yeu will only come to my terms witbout further trouble,” ‘* Explain,” ** Why, here are your two detective foes, pris- oners at your feet. The beiressis in my keep- ing. You, Diego Boslayo, marry me, and Jet me pass for Inez Damasco, and the whole thing is already in your bands,” uly ‘¢ There’s something in this,” assented Diego, ‘* Yes, but where do I come in?” asked Fernan- do, ‘You and Diego can arrange your own terms,” said the girl, ‘* And that lets Luella out of it, and makes it easy for her to wed the man of her choice, her American lover,” said Fernando, ‘* Curse him!” grated Diego, ‘* Peste! are we going to allow a woman to balk our plans, Fernando? Do you think I will give up the woman I Jove to a rival, and be forced to marry one I do not love?” ‘* Your words settle all,” spoke Teresa, freez- ingly. patina this Deadwood Dick and Pete Parrot lay as if dead, and the man on the roof looked quietly down upon the scene, He took no part. as yet, though it was plain enough that be hod a part to play; but what it was could not ea’ily bave been guessed, One thing, he had an object in remaining unseen. After her words, the young woman turned and entered the house, Now came a shot from the inner window, the same as before, and it was a close call for Diego Soslayo. Had he not happened to bend over, just at the instant the trigger was pulled, he would have been a dead man, for the young woman had aimed to kill, Witha leap and an oath he got out of range and returned the shot, but without effect, for the young woman had been quick enough to dodge, seeing that her own bullet bad missed its mark, ‘‘Capture these men!” she ordered her aides, ‘*Masier said than done,” retorted Fernando, ** Let trem try it!” cried Diego, ‘*Make vour escape,” one of the captors of Dick and Pete whispered, ‘' We need not seek one another’s blond, Get yourselves off.” ‘* No, sir, we are here on business,” rejoined Fernando, ‘*‘ We mean now to take this young woman prisoner, and we want to know where the otber is, If you want to get off lightly vow had better tell,” ‘‘ We know nothing, senor,” “That may be, but you know this mucb,” rs We know nothing of any woman, save this: — one,” ‘‘ Liars! do not think you can blind me, Dis- close this secret to us, and your reward will be: double what this young woman has promised ou, sar No, no; for, even did we know, we would not tell, Did we know anything, it would reveal that we had been intrusted with a secret, aud had that been the case nothing could draw it from us,” ‘Well, well,” with a barsh oath, ‘“‘say no more about that. How would you like to earn a double reward? But, you shake your head, to say that you are earniug nothing at present. So be it. How would you like to earn somethin in astrictly honest manner? As you have said, we need not fight,” The fellows looked willing, but said nothing. ‘** You have overcome here our two worst foes, ° If you can dispose of them, in a quiet way, 80 that no one will ever he the wiser, we will give youa bundred pesos for your trouble,” ** We can dothat, senor,” said the spokesman, ** And you will?” ** We will.” | “Good, But, the woman, Diego; she must be taken care of,” “You are right. We want no more bullets from her direction, Let’s make sure of her.” They ran along under the window from which the shot had come, and entered the house, where they were gone some minutes, The man on the roof had disappeared. Presently the two men came out again, swear- ing Pai io ‘“‘ Curse her!” cried Diego, ** she has given us theslip. Tell us where she has gone,, you.men,’” “4 How should we know, senor?’ “* But you do know, curse yous” a | 900ks.c comi