Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 870 — page 4: what you’re looking at

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

» a aA => —-— i - Oo «6 ' a * Awe a, . 4 ~ s . > ~ i 3 -_ x =3e _ ae ” ) > _ . * =. ot eee! of” — 4 : : 7 . a) > . «. . - Deadwood Dick, Jr., in Mexico. | ; 4 ya * You ought to lynch the fool when you do get bim,’ declared Pete, in the native tongue. ‘““ Why, senor?” -'* He is abusing you so, and hadn’t sense enough to be still and escape when he had the chance. I wouldn't blame you a bit,” And then Pete laughed again. So it was kept up till the end of the junction of the street was reached, the crowd growing more and more enraged all the time, and when they came out into the broader thoroughfare another crowd joined in, There. on the top of the last house of the narrow,street. plainly scen in the moonlight, was the parrot! ‘* Pete, where are you?” the feathered imp demanded. again, but a blow between the eyes from Dick’s fist dropped him like a log. The other was up and coming, by that time Dick offered him a dose of the same medi- cine, but*the fellow dodged and closed in with him again. Then commenced another struggle for the mastery, and still no word was spoken and no sound made louder than the struggle it: self. Dick wondered at it as he fought. The second man scrambled to his feet be- fore Dick could clear himself this time, and he had them buth to fight again. Ina moment however, he got a favorable advantage, A chance offered for him to strike the two fellows’ heads together, and he did it. with ‘Right here, Poll; come down!” Pete | no gentile force, and down they dropped as responded. . And down Polly flew, to his shoulder. ** Valgame Dios! El papagayo!” ** Mathaya !’ ** Cascaras |” Peste |” These and a hundred other choice oaths and imprecations were hotly spit out, and one of the policemen made the attempt to take the bird by the neck, Polly threw herself back over Pete’s shoulder, however, holding fast by her sharp claws, and gave the man’s hand such a hot eacepen that he was glad to give it up. ‘‘ You said it was your comrade!” they turned upon Pete. ‘‘T said nothing of the kind,” Pete de- clared. ‘‘I knew it was the bird all the time.”’ ‘*Then where is your companion? Where did he go to? Carrambo!/ but it will go hard with youif you don’t tell us! What did you do with him?” ‘“‘Tf you think IL have got him in m cket, search me,” retorted Pete, disgusted- ‘Seems hard to make you fellows be- lieve anything. He disappeared, and that was the last 1 saw of him.” ‘‘ Well, come along, you; if we can’t get ' both we have got one, anyhow,” ‘‘ Yes, but the wrong one.” | Some of the policemen and most of the crowd returned to make another search in the narrow street, while the remainder led Pete away to the city carcel, where he was turned over to the vcarcelero, or jailer, for safe keeping. | In the mean time what of Dick? The moment he reached the top of the wall and looke over he saw that the wall inclosed a spacious garden. It was planted and well kept, as the moon- light revealed, and had many trees and bushes of various kinds. In the center, facing probably another street, was a big - mansion, or morada, Since Pete could not escape, and it would be folly for both to be caught, Dick did not hesitate but dropped over into the in- closure, No sooner down than two men seized him. Here was a surprise for the American and astruggle commenced that called forth all his muscular pcwers. Not a word was spoken, and as the two fellows dragged him in the direction of the _ house they were soon away from the wall and under the shade of some trees. | - The two Mexicans were powerful fellows, both of them, and Dick thought they must overcome him, in spite of his efforts. They made not a sound, save their heavy breathing. and he did not speak. When Dick thought it was all up with him, one man slipped, and this gave Dick a slight advantage. | _ He was quick to seize it, too, and threw. that fellow off before he could recover and! closed desperately with the other, succeed- 4 ing in downing him and tearing away from hold. vt ) ~ ig, 5 Vhs. Ts eo at oat a 4 -- ’ s tf » 4 Pa GY 4 ‘~~ ** a nd 3 >a a Sa a ‘ om - .* ‘SF C ~ 2 * ts be ‘ - at ts me Pe ifs yr > 4 oovire 3 --*, Fos. oe ee Auth : ae a 3 Anayt . whet tie \ A pat “a a Save Fond Tre Y 4 ~ wa om ‘ oy 4 . ~ 7a aa ‘ oy s eae 5) aA >. +> 2 - ¥ re ~ i “4 = yy Ss, Ree,” ie: : a Mn a . ew *., et > At that instant the other was upon him ' y a ’ é 4 . ° rik . ~ 4 ’ hae “th. ** : 4 , ee tee age 0 . oe ee ss tra’ ‘ : * . * < els. tp mgt Fgh « though they had been struck by lightning. “Well, this is warm work,” Dick panted, as he shook himself together. ‘‘I'll be hanged if Mexico”isn't giving us a warm, from the w6rd Go. Wonder where it will allend, anyhow? Must get out of here and see what Ican do for Pete, next thing on the programme,” His clothing had been somewhat disar- ranged, but he quickly restored it, and find ing his hat, moved toward the house, leav- ing the two men where he had dropped them under the trees. ‘‘Something peculiar about all this,” he mused. ‘‘ Those fellows said never a word the whole time we were at it. Maybe they were to rob and had good reason to keep quiet. Maybe I had better rouse up the household and have them taken taken care of. But, we'll see about that.” Keeping under the shade of the trees as much as possibfe, he drew near to thg house Ser eaeepa. approaching it on the shaded side. It was a quaint-looking building, a cross between a hotel and a prison, as Dick thought, The rear was plain, with small square windows, and is one door. ; This door was low down, and some steps led down to its level, and, as Dick discov- ered on drawing near, the windows were barred. sary He passed around, slowly, and found that the end was like the back. What was more, a high fence cut off his escape in that direc- tion, and the fence was of iron with pointed tops. At the other end he had noticed what seemed to be the kitchen, work-room, and so forth, and from there escape to the street seemed: easy, though he would have to cross the yard in the strong moonlight. No mat- ter, he must take the risk and get out while he could. " He crept along under the line of the win- dows, keeping close to the house, and was nearing the other end when something caused him to stop. — : He had caught the sound of sobbing, and stopped to listen. It came from the window, Standing erect. he cautiously Drought his face to the window and tried to peer in, but ;: all was darkness beyond, yet he heard the ‘sobbing plainly now, It,was evidently a woman, weeping, and she did not appear to be more than a foot away from the barred window. Dick hesi- tated, thinking what to do in the matter, and ee -t— —SOP" --OO—Oor>e ie Oro o-oo ese while he stood thus the unseen person moaned: — . 7 “My God! I cannot bear it: Why have they put me here? What have I done that they should treat me so? Oh! father! if you could we know where Iam, how quickly ou would come to me! But, you cannot now, Sue think Iam safe and happy, and it may be months before you will come to see me again— My God! I cannot, I cannot bear it! Oht what shall Ido?” © bes, oF a co A. ay x 4 i £. wa a wr | “Itisnot enowgh, T Vane oe ca Sorat ee ; ' i ~ vee Fe en he Pe Dick drew back out of sight, but tapped upon the bars with his ring. He drew away his hand quickly, and the moaning and sobbing had ceased instantly at the first sound. Dick waited, for he dia not want to alarm the person and cause her to cry out nor frighten her and scare her away from the window. For a few seconds not a sound was heard. Then a woman’s voice whispered: ‘* Who is there?” “A friend,” Dick responded. ‘Thank God! Let me see you.”’ Dick stepped to the window, and dimly saw a face within, ‘“Who are you, sir?” the young woman asked—he judged her to be young, nearas he could guess, ‘T am an American,” Dick made re- sponse, hearing you weeping, I stopped to listen. Do you speak English?’ * Si, senor.” “* But, you still use Spanish.” ‘“‘Tam so used to it, that is the only reason, sir.” | This was in English with scarcely any foreign accent whatever, in a sweet and musical voice, | ‘‘ Well, let us whisper in this language, for fear of being overheard, Do I under- stand that you are a prisoner here? Who are you,and what is the reason you are in this place?” ‘‘Yes, yes, I am a prisoner, and this is a madhouse. They say lam crazy, but Iam as sane as you are. I know not what it means, for ] have harmed no one, and it is alla mystery tome. If you will listen, sir, I will tell you all about it.” ‘Proceed; I listen.” CHAPTER IY. RESCUE, DICK IN TROUBLE, THE CAPTURE. Tur girl put her face close to the bars, so a that Dick felt her warm breath on his face Ag. and neck as she spoke. ‘‘My name is Inez Damasco,” she began, | uve & \ and at mention of the name Dick start. It was not the first time he had heard that name; in fact— But, no matter here and now. ‘My father’s name is Hunfredo Damasco, 4 and at present heis in the United States, | | where he has a rich mine, from him in a long, long time, and I was pre- paring to go and find him when I was seized and imprisoned here.” : 19 T ‘a ‘* And who did it?” ‘‘T donot know; the me here,” ‘But, there must have been some one be- es | Do you think your cousin hada =| hind it all. hand in it?” ; a ‘*My cousin?” ‘* Yes; Diego ‘‘T do not, know him,” / _ “You know his name, and that he is my cousin ?” Std ‘*More mystery still, sir. You almost — tn did you know me, or | him? Did you come here from my father? ~ my father! Tell me frighten me. How Ha! maybe you know f, “T came in here by chance, and — ‘ ee oi > ph bee * “te ¢ re OS . uJ ~~ rs -—< Ihave not heard authorities placed Soslayo.” ; meee? ‘‘Heavens! who are you, toknow him?” “Yes, 1 know it now; I wanted to make — ep are the person you claim,to be, that — is all. | | ee o- ff q 2 | he a < — > rf = ww, « Seer: es - . — . % \. . 4 ie 42 r quickly, if you do, I beg.” a ‘‘T never saw your father in my life, Miss = 9 | Damasco.” ; ee “But, your story, miss, Tt eannot bethat gh ig all you have to tell, isit?” ~ eS tT me that you are'my 1 i ao > ; ~ a4 a ? od 4 < : : r ' ; ' he « ~*~ vy . . 7 iay Xe F255 ? ba d 4 : ‘ : = . . . ¥ re me 7 4. ne : ah fh a Fone ’ 3 ’ 2 * oe - — ee E — & Tae SES Le eee 3-78 rf L : ; “ ¢ ¥ ? | Ps. . | Pole . wy Pe e | \ ) ‘ dy wk Rh FS ae wt Sa 8S ww tee half fear Thave told you too much al- | ready, sir. What assurance can you give ¢ yo, % a. @s i eee > , ’ , » . Gein awd -"*