Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 870 — page 7: what you’re looking at

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

a _ swear to that. i think we’ll keep you, now that we have got you.” ‘* But, you have not got me yet. Whatis more, you will not take me without some one getting hurt. Get back from here, now, every man of you!” Dick spoke in the plainest Spanish he could command,and what that lacked in force was made up by his menacing manner and the grim and dangerous revolvers he aimed at the men. They fell back involuntarily. ‘‘Purther back!” Dick thundered, you don’t, I'll lay you out.” They recoiled from before him, and Dick put away one weapon and with his left hand turned the key in the gate. He unlocked the lock, withdrew the key, and still with his eyes on the men in front of him he swung the gate open a little and passed through, closed the gate and Jocked it one the outside. The half dozen of baffled officials and guardsmen were gnashing their teeth in im- potent rage. ‘Don't let him get away!” cried one of the two guardsmen, “He has broken open the house and stolen one of the patients!” the other in- formed. ‘*What! What’s that?” This was the governor of the institution, and he jumped clear from the ground in his excitement, ‘‘It is true,” he was assured. ‘‘ One of the windows has been forced, the bars being cut, and a young woman has been stolen away—”’ The governor gave vent toa terrific oath, and ordered his men to attack the gate, and just at that moment Dick going away, they obeyed as if they were the bravest of the brave. Dick had escaped, true, but it was only out of the frying-pan into the fire, as the say- ing has it. The shouting had drawn the attention of the police, and three of them were running in the direction of the asylum gate. Besides these, idlers were beginning to collect, and it looked as though Dick would have his work to do overagain’ He was not yet out of the woods, ‘‘What’s the matter?’ a policeman de- manded. ‘* A fight,” Dick answered, in good enough Spanish, | . He was not running, and be might have escaped then, had not the governor of the place bellowed out: Stop that man!| He is ‘* Stop that man! the murderer! He bas broken into the asilo / He is a murderer! a thief! a rascal! a vaga- bond! a wretch!” This turned all attention to Dick, and es- cape looked impossible. He had just passed the officers, and now they turned and com- manded him to stop and give himself up to them ‘* He don't mean me,” Dick protested. ‘© We don't know that; you are the man we mean, anyhow.” Dick cast about him to decide quickly what he should do, in such a fix. This asylum was on the outer edge of the city, and its walls separated it from the city, toa certain extent. A street ran in front of itr but here the houses were not many, and a little way be- yond lay the hills with their gullies and ravines. | Dick resolved to\run for it. Firing his revolvers, a couple of shots from each, to check pursuit for amonient, he turn- ed and was off like a deer, Across the street, around a dark and seem- ingly vacant house, then down along a rag- ged looking fence, behind another house, and before him lay a house with the door wide * Tf open ; _ He looked back,.and his pursuers were not | Pray tell me what it is you want.” | | | | yet in sight around the last turn he had made, so he ran straight for the open door, sprung in, and closed the door after him. | There was instantly a woman's scream, and a pair of soft arms were flung around his neck and lips greeted his in kisses, CHAPTER VI | DEADWOOD DICK IN A DELICATE DILEMMA, Drapwoop Dick had never been more surprised in his life. The room was totally dark, and he could not see. who this woman was—that is, what she was like. Her arms were soft and warm, however, and he felt her heaving breast pressed close, while her sweet breath fanned his face in a way that thrilled him. ** My love! my love!” So she exclaimed, in broken English. ‘*Dick,” she added, more to his surprise than ever, ‘‘ Dick, alma mai, what is the matter?” Dick returned her embrace, resolved to enjoy the adventure and her mistake to the full, while the opportunity lasted. But, then, was it a mistake? spoken his name! There was no time to question, for he ex- pected to hear the steps of his pursuers the next moment, so he hurriedly whispered, speaking in English, since she had done so: ‘‘T am pursued! You must save me! You will hear them in a moment; they will demand to know if you have seen me; you will tell them no. Do you understand?” ‘*Yes, yes; I will die for you if necessary, Dick, my love!” Angry voices were heard at that moment. Then came the stampede Of many feet, and soon a heavy knock at the door, No answer was given at first, and the knocking was repeated, when the young wo- man called out to know who was there, ‘Officers of the law,” was the answer, ‘Ave Maria! what do you want here, officers?” in alfright. ‘Open this door immediately.” “Oh! LT ecannot do that; Il am in undress, She had This was a clever le, on the part of the girl, andit had the desired effect at once, for the man was heard to say: ‘* He can't be here, that’s sure.” ‘‘No; try thes next house; he is some- where, for he surely hadn’t time to reach the campo.” ‘‘Ask the woman if she heard any ore running.” | All this was plainly heard, but the man at the door rniset his voice to make the in- quiry. ‘* No,” was the young woman’s answer. ‘*T have been asleep, and you awakened me by your pounding. There is noone here, | assure you. Do go away, ‘please.” The men went off mumbling and growl- ing, and were soon heard pounding at the door of another house further on where they undoubtedly put similar questions and of course met with the same disappointment. Meantime the girl had thrown her arm around Dick’s neck again, and tremblingly asked; | ‘*Oh! Dick! what have you done, that the officers are after you?” Her broken English was sweetest music. “I have done nothing, my love,” Dick boldly answered, pressing her close, ‘A murder has been committed, and they have mistaken me forthe murderer. I had to run to escape arrest,” “And you straight here, accused of murder, and why do they accuse you?” Dick responded in hoarse whisper. “It was only a beggar,” he answered, ’ ? > 24% iw se iid thought. of me and came How fortunate that,we had appointed our meeting here for this hour! But, it is terrible, to think of your being Who has been killed? é 7 —— ~ La » i . . . mS ; > YY : _ > : r¢ - Se . - +f t § “i at em - wt = @ | ute avis. ; * ae : wa! : oY Ow ; x 7 ‘fand I happened to be nearest to him when he was shot down. Somebody raised the cry that 1 had done it. I suppose I will have to lie low, or put on a disguise to get away in, You will help me in the latter, of course,” “I will help you in anything, Dick. Would I meet you here alone in grand- mother's old house, did I not love you?” For answer, Dick pressed her fondly again, He must carry on the deception for a little time, until the officers had given up their search, There was danger from another direction, liowever. If the young woman had ‘an ap- pointment with her lover, whom slie took Dick to be, he might put in his appearance at any moment. ‘* Where is your grandmother?” he whis- pered, ‘‘ She has gone to the fiestas over on the Plaza, as you very well know. But, let us sit down, Dick, for the danger is past now.” She felt around for a chair, and having found it, called to Dick, who went where she stood, He found that the chair was a large one, evidently the favorite seat of the absent grandmother, and dropping upon it he drew the young woman to his lap. It was a deception he felt that he must play, andif he dad to do it he might as well play it to the full. } Kisses were exchanged and she said: ‘*And you will save me?” “Ifitis in my power to do so, I have sot myself inthis confounded scrape for the present, you see,” ‘* Yes, but the murderer will be found, and then you will be safe. I have been pleading with my brother, but it is of no use; he is determined I shall wed Diego Soslayo.” Dick gave an inward start, . ‘*’Phe rascal!” he cried. . ‘‘ He is not ver brotherly to you, [ must say, but he shall not come ‘between us. Now, tell me the whole scheme. Tell me everything about it.’’ . « Dick had to be watehf ul, and could not go very far. He did not even know this girl's name! “Why Diego Soslayo is trying to oheat his cousin, Inez Damasco, ont of herinheritance, and Fernando isaiding him. If I will marry Diego, my brother will get a share, you see. And I am to pass myself for Inez! Oh! I hate them for it, how I hate them for it!” ‘“And have you promised?” “They have made me promise. They threatened to kill me if | would not,” ‘‘ So there is no hope, but far you to fly with me, and for us to,marry at once and so cheat their little game.” ‘That is it, Dick, that is it, and I have a plan which is this: 1 will disguise as a boy and you can take me with you on your en- gine up into the United States, and we need never come back here any more, You can get work there.as wellas here.” — . Which revealed that the real lover must be an engineer inthe employ of. the Mexican National Railway. What was his name? How could Dick find out, ‘Then you are ready to change your name, are you?” he whispered, laughing. ‘* Won't it sound strange at first?” ‘Do you think so? Luella Radway? Why, I think it will be much prettier than Luella Remolon, My brother almost makes me hate the family name, after such con- duet.” . Now Dick had it all! The brother was Fernando Remolon, and he and Diego Soslayo were the men Dick and Pete had been warned against. And a pretty scheme they bad set in mo- tion, or were trying to get under headway; a very pretty scheme indeed! And it was, let us say, brought Dick hither! _ = this very business which bad a(? : . 7 * ‘4 - ‘ Rey, ' tm! gl: ; . ~ * : - . ‘ _ | : 4 \ fe. \ ae mm, . “pOOKS.CcCO ‘ y yN / » 4 = , } | a 8 ae = ° . wate . 4 Sa a... ha, a