Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 870 — page 15: what you’re looking at

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

ae eee te Se Deadwood Dick, Jr., in Mexico. 15 * Kill them!” cried Teresa, ‘* Kill them all!” Her hirelings stood in doubt what to do, and Dick and Diego were struggling desperately. ** Make a prisoner of that ’ar hairy varmint,” Pete Parrot ordered, indicating Diego, while at the same time he held the girl tightly. ‘* Help my pard thar, or I'll put lead into ye!” This decided them, for the moment, and they sprung to, the aid of Dick, and Diego was over- come, ** Fools! Cowards!” So screamed Teresa, Inez had sprung into ber lover’s arms, and was held in his embrace, ‘‘ Now capture these other two,” ordered Deadwood Dick, pointing at Fer nando and the girl Pete was hol ing, ‘* This oneis already captured,” declared Pete. **She can’t do any harm, and you are three to one against that galoot. Take him, Dicky, dead or alive!” ** Wools!” screamed Teresa again, ‘' If you go back on me I'll have you banged! You know has lives are in my hands,knowing what I do, y that I made you do my bidding before,” They hesitated, and fora moment the battle trembled in the balance. CHAPTER XIIli. AMAZEMENT FOR THE MAGISTRATE, DEADWOOD Dick decided the poitit of doubt. He had already sprung upon Fernando, and had a weapon at bis bead, ** Pete, shoot the first man that tries to inter- fére with our plans,” he cried, in Spanish, ‘‘ They can depend on it,” declared Pete. ‘It's life or death to you, men, and you can have your choice. We are armed and you are not,” ‘And [ll have you hanged, both of you!” screamed Teresa. ‘* You know you are murder- ers, and that I know all about it. Do you want me to tell the police what I know?’ The two fellows talked together for a brief mo- ment, in low tones, and then of asudder both ran away as fast as their legs could carry them, This was the most sensible thing they could have done, and there was no one to interfere, since this was the promise Dick and Montero had given them, that they should be allowed to go free, ww And now Dick and Pete, with Montero, were certainly masters of the situation and able to keep their advantage. | They had their three prisoners in hand and disarmed. - But, the end was not. yet. The loud talking, the screams of the women, and the pistol-shot had reached the ears of police- men, Tbree of these now came running to the scene and at sight of them Dick and Pete recognized that they were in a desperate situation, and that i apa was likely to be wrested out of their is i Dick spoke hurriedly to Montero in low tone, ‘*We are in a bad fix now,” hesaid. ‘ My rd and I have broken jail, ‘and we will have the police to fight, Whatever you do, do not joss possession of your love, and, if possible, keep hold upon Teresa Papada, too. If we escape, meet us at the saloon kept by Tobin Tamarack.” Gaspar had only time to speak a word in re- sponse before the police came up in a hurry. ‘““Take these foreign devils, officers,” cried Remolon. ‘They are the ones who ‘escaped from the jail! Lam Fernando Remolon,” ‘* You takecare to keep your distance!” thun- dered Pete Parrot, who could ee better Span- ish than Dick, ‘If you don’t, there will be some dead policemen around on the ground!” ** Attack them!” ordered Remolon, “* Abate!” cried Pete, For the moment they stood in doubt, but the ' next words of Fernando decided them, ‘ Cowards!” hecried. ‘‘ I'll band your names to your superior the first thing after daylight, and you will be stripped of your pecees es in dis- race, Do you hear? I order you to take these rigands!” Dick a and Pete had quickly consulted. It would not do to shvot to kill, yet in no other way werethey likely to escape, | The offi fficers penne to the attack, and Dick and Pete fired, but not to bit, and then followed a@ band-to-band battle, which ‘for some moments was a pretty lively fracas, It was fortunate that the hands of Diego Sos- layo had been bound, and also that Pete Parrot = had secured the arms of Teresa Papada while holding her, for on this account these two were hate sizes of the our friends, Still the odds was greatly t Chace Montero sprung into the fray, too, and it became desperate, ‘* Not to kill,” Dick whispered to him, ae understand, ” the response, Deadwood Dick made Fernando his especial mark, determined that he should. not escape if he could help it. Fighting off the officers, Dick aimed to get | at him, but before he could do so Gaspar had closed with him and he and Fernando fell to the ground in their desperate struggle. Again the policemen were upon Dick and Pete in a body, and the two pards had their hands full, It now looked as though the victory must go wrong. Teresa had started to run away, with her arms bound, but Inez was upon her like a tigress. ‘* No, you shall not escape!” she cried, ** You shall be repaid for what you intended doing forme, You would have killed me, iad I not been the stronger,” She threw the desperate young woman to the ground, and tearing a strip from some part of her garments made her doubly secure by bind- ing her feet, Diego already bad his bound, At that instant Gaspar Montero was getting decidedly the worst of the fight with Remolon, Inez was to his rescuein an instant, With a stone she dealt Fernando a tap on the hear that made him dizzy, and Gaspar immedi- ately had the mastery again. Remolon was speedily made a prisoner, like Diego, and having done that, Inez and Gas- par sprung to the aid of Dick and his pard against the police, where their help was badly needed, This turned the tide against the officers, and they were quickly backed into a corner where two buildings joined, where they stood at bay. ‘‘ Will you come to terms, now?’ demanded Montevo, ‘* What terms do you seek?” ‘*‘ You are determineGé to retake these escaped prisoners, it seems,” s Yes, ” ‘Well, you cannot doit, You ought to know they are not guilty men, for they have spared your lives when they might have shot you long ago. ‘¢ What do you talk of terms for?” ‘* We have terms to offer.” ‘* Name them,” Montero turned to Deadwood Dick, and they held a brief talk in English, “This gentleman,” said Montero, then, turn- ing to the cornered policemen, ‘ is an Ameri- can detective. Have you ever heard of Dead- wood Dick? Well, it is he, and he is no murderer, be sure of that.” oo But, he is an escaped prisoner none the ess,’ ef That j is all right, and he is willing to go with you, but you are not to try to disarm him. You see he has the best of the situation, and you had better come to his terms, If you will do that, it will be all right with you. VWhat have you to say to it?” Montero being a native, could put it strong in the native tongue, ** 'W bat does he require of us, then?” “That you will aid him to take bis prison~- ers before the corregidor, where you will be at liberty to tell your own story and make whatever charge you choose. But, they will not go with you as prisoners, They are in the right, and these are rascals who have been try- ing to play a dastardly trick; I care not if one is Senor Fernando Remolon,” The policemen consulted for a few moments, and decided. ‘“We accept the terms,” their spokesman said. ‘‘ The plan suits our plans very well in- deed,” “That settles it,” spoke up Deadwood Dick. ‘‘Lend usahand with the prisoners we have taken, and you will find that you aré on the right side when the thing is fully shown up.” Teresa and Kemolon were not silent, ‘You are fools!” cried the enraged young woman, ‘*You are asses! You have let the best prisoners get away! They were the men who committed the murder two months ago,” ** You will sweat for this! stormed Remolon. **VYou seem to forget who and what I am! You shall be stripped of your badges and turn- ed out of the service in disgrace. I swearit! To think of it, that I, Fernando Remolon, should be dragged before the corregidor like a common culprit!” ‘You are worse hy far than the common culprit,” reminded Deadwood Dick, ‘“ You have misused the power you have in the city What have you to say to the chargo of having falsely imprisoned this lady in the madbouse? You will be made to sweat, I rather calculate, my fine Mexican gentleman, And for you, Diego Soslayo, worse is in store. And this is not to mention the murder of the beggar.” ‘*What!” cried Remolon, ‘ You would lay that to our account?” ‘*] shall not be surprised if it is made to ap- pear that it wasa pretty scheme of your origi- nating. In fact, 1 have proof that it was. What of Andreo?” The rascai stormed, but it did bir little good, and presently the p arty: set forward for the resi- dence of the city magistrate, Arriving there, loud rapping brought the corregidor to a window, and be impatiently de- manded to know wlat was wanted of him at that unseemly hour of the night—or morning. ‘‘Itis I, Fernando -Remolon,” cried that an- gered gentleman. ‘‘Things have come to a ih soe ta here in Mexico! Comedown at once and— ‘*Senor Fernando Remolon?” the magistrate cried, now wide awake, ‘ I will bedown imme- diately, senor,” ** We'll see now who will go to the wall,” Re- molon sneered, looking at Bristol, ‘* Pete, you will gag this man,” Dick ordered. What!” the fellow cried, ‘* You would heap furtber indignity upon me? Men of the police, I demand your protection,” The police would have favored him, but Dead- wood Dick thrust a brace of glittering revolvers unser their noses and they were compelled to ses off and see the gagging process accomplish- eX ‘*'We mean to have the first say in this matter ourselves,” said Deadwood Dick, ‘ Your politi- cal pull is no doubt strong, but you will find that it don’t begin to tip the beam against genuine American sand, We came here on business, and we are now about to accomplish it,” ** What was your busivess here?’ asked Mon- tero, “Tt will be needless to tejl it twice, and it must be told immediately to the magistrate,” Dick answered, “True enough; I will wait forit then, Be- sides, there is no time now, for here is the gen- tleman at the door. My father knew this corre- gidor well,” ** As also does mine,” spoke up Inez Damasco, “‘Had I been able to get his aid, they would never have confined me in the madbouse as they did. But, they put me there under an assumed name, and { could do uothing against them.” “Your pardon, Senor Remolon, for keeping you waiting even this short time,” said the magistrate just then opening the door. ‘* You will walk right in with your prisoners, please, and [ know it must be a case of great magnitude to bring you in person to— Eh? What? Gag- ged?” Ristat CHAPTER X(V., DEADWOOD DICK’S TRIUMPH. THE corregidor stopped short, and could only stand and stare, He knew not what to make of this, and looked from one to another of the party as they filed into his house Where he had expected to find Fernando Re- molon in charge, from what he had heard him say, be found him a prisoner in the hands of etrangers. What in the name of Montezuma could it mean? A few words of preparaticn had been ex- changed between Deadwood Dick and Gaspar Montero, and the latter took it upon himself to break the silence, ‘* Sire,” he said, ‘you knew my father well, Lam Gaspar Montero, ” ‘Ab! that is true, my son. But, what—” ‘*] will explain. Let me make known Senor Richard Bristol, a detective from the United States who has come to Mexico upon especial business, and who has been mistaken for a mur- derer and imprisoned.” ** Zounds!” the magistrate cried, but using the Spanish equivalent, however, “ This is not the man who escaped pail My nigbt’s rest has been disturbed till 1 am crazy, almost, What have you to say for yourself, Senor Americano? But, iste Remolon? Why is he a prisoner?” The magistrate was eager and excited, ‘* He is my prisoner, sir,” said Deadwood Dick, ‘* He has been guilty of at least one great crime, and maybe others, We sball see about that, In order to make everything plain to you, sire, you must hear my story.” “ Proceed. ‘* We have come here from the United States on a special mission,” Dick began, using the best o~« ~~ a — = > 4 on, Ge at yh V i 1 RCROORE com