Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 870 — page 14: what you’re looking at

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

14 ‘Curses will not help you any, senor.” oe We will pay you double if you will show us, ** We could not dothat, were you to promise us treble.” ‘* Then you will not deal with usin this, Very well, But, the other bargain stands?” ; ‘* Yes, we will dispose of these for you, since they are disposed of already. That is, if you will give us the hundred pesos now,” Fernando took the money from his pocket and paid it over. ‘*[ will give you nine hundred more,” he of- fered, ‘if you will show us where the girl is hid away.” The fellow who had received the hundred look- ed at his accomplice in crime, but the Jatter shook his head in the negative, so the first made answer: ‘** No, not if you made it ten thousand. Be off with you, now, and leave us to finish our work,” Cursing and complaining, the two scoundrels took their leave, The dog had by this time recovered from the effect of the blow it had received, and was snarl- ing in an angry fashion, Deadwood Dick now came to, and the dog was upon bim in an instant, with its teeth at his throat, but a word from one of the men caused it to slink away to a corner of the court. ‘* As easy a Way as any to have them disposed of,” spoke one of the fellows, ct Yes, but too terrible,” said the other. ‘‘ Not that I'd care, if it wouldn’t make the dog too bloodthirsty,” ‘* Well, let’s put them away.” ‘Yes, quickly.” At that instant a strange voice struck upon their ears, ‘*Hello! Here’s the devil to pay again! Pete done up! Dick done up! Polly get no whisk now.” The fellows stood with weapons in hand, star- ing at the two men on the ground at their feet, but it was plain that neither of them had said a word, Who, then, had spoken? That they could not understand what had been said was evident. ‘* Who spoke?” asked one, ‘*it was an American,” said the other, ‘“* Hello, Pete! Hello, Dick! Polly want whisk! Polly want booze!” **It isa voice from the ground,” declared one of the now alarmed Mexicans, ‘It is el es- pectro,.” ‘* Yes, a ghost; as you live,” They were backing away from Dick and Pete, in affright, and no wonder, for here was a voice coming from a place where they knew no Shee could be, in life, as it certainly was not ete, Of a sudden came.a shot from the top of the house, and the dog, in the corner where it stood, gavea yelp and a leap and fell dead, » The same instant a supple form leaped <a into the inclosure, and a strong voice cried: **Up with your hands, you cowards!” It was the map who had been on the roof, and who had disappeared for a time, ‘¢ Yes, up with ’em, you skunks!” echoed Pete Parrot, springing to his feet as if nothing had been the matter with him, He had been watching his chance for such a move as this. ** Bet your life!” sung out Polly. ‘‘ Sock it to em, Pete, sock it to ’em!” The bird bad got out of Pete’s pocket, now, and was perched upon his shoulder as usual. ‘* Surrender!” tbe stranger commanded again, ** I] won’t speak the third time, you dogs! Drop your weapons and put up your hunds, or die!” The ruffians recognized a master, in this map, and obeyed his order as if mechanically, Na ag fall their weapons and put up their hands, backing away into a corner, ‘Hold them covered there, sir,” said the _ new-comer to Pete, then, ‘‘and I will see how badly your com anion here is injured. I hope it is not badly, for there is work for us three to do, If one of them attempts to get away, shoot him down like a dog.” . ee cap bet 1 will, pard. But, who are ou ‘* My name is Gaspar Montero,” CHAPTER XII. EXCITING STRUGGLE, THOUGH neither Deadwood Dick nor Pete Parrot could have any knowledge of the stran- r by his name alone, the re is more en- htened than these were at that stage of the It will be remembered that this was the name Deadwood Dick, J r., in Mexico. used by the men who had stolen Inez Damasco out of the asylum, the decoy which had led her to trust herself fully into their bands, ,»Gaspar Montero was Inez Damasco’s lover, Who had been removed by Diego Soslayo, The attack of the dog had rendered Deadwood Dick nearly, if not quite, unconscious again, but he was now recovering. “Are you much hurt?’ asked Montero, in English, ' “] don’t know,” answered Dick, ‘‘ My head feels queer.” ‘** Let me see,” He removed Dick’s big Mexican hat, and his fingers immediately found a lump that had been raised on the side of bis head. ‘*’'You are all right,” he cheerfully declared, ‘* See, this steel ornament on your hat has saved your life. You are worth a dozen dead men, and will soon be yourself again. Dick made an effort to get his powers back, and was speedily able to stand up. ** 'W ho are you, senor?” he made inquiry. Montero explained. ** And how came you bere?’ Dick asked, , aA will involve the telling of my story in ull,’ ‘‘Which can be done in a few minutes, no doubt, while I am getting my grip.” ) ‘€ Yes, I can tell it briefly, Diego Soslayo was my rival, and he was aided by that rascal Re- molon, Together they lured me away and made a prisoner of me, and I have only just escaped from their hands. ‘* Well, I came here immediately to find Inez, but learned that she had been confined in the asylum, I went there, only to find the place in an uproar over the escape of an inmate, and that the very one I sought, How and where should I seek her? ‘Tf any one would be likely to know, Diego Soslayo was the man, and I sought him. I got on his track only a little while ago, and fol- lowed him to the home of a young woman named Teresa Papada, who has been in love with him for some time, as it appears. They did not go to the house exactly, but spied upon it, and I upon them; as I have now reason to be- lieve you were-doing, too,” “You are right.” ‘* Well, I followed them, as did you, and in consequence, here I am,” ‘* And only for you we might have got the worst of it, too. e must do something to can- cel the obligation, sir.” s ‘*T am going to give you the chance, my friends, I have located where Inez Damasco is imprisoned, and want you to come with me to the rescue, But, [ know not who you are, ‘‘T am Deadwood Dick, Junior,” Dick ex- plained, ** What? Not Deadwood Dick!” ‘** No other.” Montero showed the surprise he felt, and grasped Dick’s hand warmly. ‘**“And Vm his pard,” cried Pete Parrot. ** Homely old Peter Parrot, with my bird Polly along with me,” ‘*] have beard of you, too, sir, This is cer- tainly a pleasure. I must hear your story, Deadwood Dick, and what brought you here, But, not now, for we must. go tothe rescue as speedily as possible,” ‘* Another minute and I shall have my strength, How have you learned where the lady is?. She certainly is not in this house.” ** No, she is not here, but she is not far away. I found her by following Teresa.” ‘* Hal then no time is to be lost!” Dick cried. ** You fear—” ‘* That that jealous and vengeful young wo- man may do her barm,” **You are right! Come, let us to the rescue at once! Not a minute is tobe wasted!” ** But, what about these hyer cusses?” asked Pete Parrot, ** Senor,” one of the prisoners now spoke up, ‘‘we are in your power, and we are willing to serve you if you will spare us,” ‘““How do we know you are to be trusted?” cried Montero, : ‘* We swear we willserve you well. We have agreed it together. All we ask is that you will let us go our way when you have rescued the young woman. We do tot want to go to ue Disarm them, Pete,” ordered Dick, ‘* We will trust them, and if they try to fool us a bul- let will be their reward.” : “« Salve, senor! Weswear to be true to our word with you.” They were immediately disarmed. ‘* Now, lead the way out of here,” said Dick, irre ** And then you, Senor Montero, be our guide to the place where the lady is,” They were soon out of the house, and Gaspar , Montero set forward on a run to their place of o4 ee the otbers following close at his heels, The place was still further on the outskirts, but was not far distant from the house from which they had started, and they were soon a there, and as they came up the cries of a- wo- to man were heard within, rere me! spare me!” was the piteous ap- al. ‘** Never!” was the answer, also in a woman’s voice, ‘*] intend to have your life.” Then instantly followed a scream, and the sound of a struggle going on within.the pecu- liar-looking house, The house was of the Mexican order, but had been changed into something of the ap- pearance of a stable, or more properly a cage for wild animals. The door bad been enlarged, and in it was an opening in which three strong iron bars were set. Perhaps it had been used for a handy lock-up at some period of the city’s history. And it was just at this critical moment that two others appeared upon the scene, These were Diego Soslayo and Fernando Remolon, who had been hunting for the missing _Teresa, and who had espied Dick and the others running bither, Dick and Pete drew their revolvers instant- ' ly, and had the advantage when the others came up, as they were just reaching for theirs, All was excitement, and the first thing to be done was the rescue of the young woman, Deadwood Dick looked quiekly about him, A few yards away stood a stout pole of some height, having been used for some purpose or other. It was in the ground, but was leaning as if it had been there for years, and pointing to this pole, Dick hastened to command: ‘“* Bring that stick, quick, and force the door!” Two of the men sprung immediately to obey, and Dick turned to the new-comers, **Donot you try to interfere here,” he gave warning, ‘It will be at the cost of your livesif you do, so take warning.” The response was a snarl), The men threw their weightupon the pole and broke it off even with the ground, and running with it, threw themselves with it against the door, causing it to crack and creak, Drawing back, they battered again and again, while the screams and cries of the two women within urged them to every effort, On one side stood Pete Parrot and Deadwood Dick, revolvers in hand, and on the other were Diego Soslayo and Fernando Remolon, All had the one object now, the rescue, After that would come—what? Just then the face of Inez Damasco appeared at the grating, ‘‘ Hasten, for God’s sake!” she urged, “I shall be killed if you do not rescue me soon!” ‘Do you hear?’ cried Pete Parrot, pointing. ‘*That girl’s hfe is at stake? Put on steam, now, and down goes ther door! Sock ‘et to ’er! Now again!” Thus urged, the men put forth all their strength, and the next moment the door split in the middle and feli in, and out ran Inez Damasco, only to be seized by Diego Soslayo. He placed a revolver to her head, and shout- ‘* Stand off! If you attempt to take her from me ll blow ber brains out!’ ¢ Gaspar Montero had been assisting in the beat- ing sas Ht of the door, and he still had hold upon the pole. The chance was his, and he improvedit. With a swing of the heavy stick be brought Diego a blow on the back which sent him and the girl to the ground together. Diego’s pistol was discharged, but the bullet struck the ground and did no harm, and in the same moment Deadwood Dick threw himself up- on the man and the young woman was enabied me) to escape. ox} Ft Teresa Papada, too, bad run out, a knife in Ks! her grasp, and she desperately ran to attack | Inez again. ; ‘‘ You hold on byar,” Pete Parrot cried, grasp- | ing herarm., ‘ Give me that sticker.” | He wrested the knife from her hand and flung nae it away. iy Here was a situation, truly. | SLATE a No one could have told at that moment how oh ed it was to come out. On which sideof the eS geale would the two birelings throw their te weight? / Bet a y ) q | < La! / -om