Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 891 — page 7: what you’re looking at

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

— ie ee eo ee ‘Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Dead-Sure Game. ‘‘Look here,” he demanded, ‘“‘I want you to speak right out plain.” ‘*That’s what I'm trying to do,” You accuse me of wearing a false name.” ‘* Your real name is Henry Snow—” ‘Sh!’ with a glance around, and witha | ‘* Don’t mention thatagain, But, who in wonder face like death. if you value your life! are you?” ‘* Joel Hicks.” Dimund dashed: his fist down upon the table with force, and ripped out an anathema, as if he cared not who heard, but his words that followed were as low-spoken as ever, or more so, ‘“You have got an unfair advantage of me,” he complained. ‘Jf you want my aid you have got to show your hand and meet me on the level,’’ : ‘And [am going to hold it, too—the ad- vantage, I mean. 1 want your aid, and you have got to give it—do you nail fast to that _ fact? I want your help, and you have got to lend it.” ‘* And if I refuse?” — ‘‘The worse for you, that’s all.” ‘* Well, curse the luck, you have got me, that’s sure.” ‘‘On the other hand, aid me to establish my claim, and I'll divvy with you.” “To what amount?” ‘* Say a quarter.” **Done. Give me your hand on it, who- ever you are, und it’sa bargain, But, I fail to see how I can aid you, unless you have a scheme laid out.” — | ** Well, I heard you remark that you had seen somebody whom this Luéy Love looks like. Have you thought who it is yet? There may bea clue in that to enable us to get in ahead of her all in good shape, after all,” ‘You have it, by Harry! The one I had in mind was a girl called Pistol Polly, who hangs out at Nuggetville. Jl bet she’s the one you are on track of.” CHAPTER VIII. ° TRYING TO PLAY A DOUBLE HAND. _ Tats man who called himself Joel Hicks gave a sturt of surprise and uttered an ejacu- lation of delight. He brought his dirty fist down upon the table with a thump, and voiced his satisfac- tion, after which he leaned forward to say:. ‘‘T£ she’s the one, Hen Snow, the game is nearer than I thought it was, and we are gure of it, All I want is a little help from you, and Ill pay you for it, you ean de- nd. | ‘‘ Well, you take care not to call me by that name aguin, or you will hear somethin’ drop; d’ye hear?” | r| “All right, Dimund; [’ll take care.” “See that you do. And now, how much will there be in this thing for me?” _ ** How does five thousand cold stones strike you?” | “lll go to the devil for that amount!” — —— — — ae | bring her here to the dancin’-school to- night.” ‘* No, the deuce! That won’t do!” Why?’ ‘That would bring the two gals together, don't you see, and they might do each other up.” ‘* But, Polly could come disguised.” ‘“‘And then what good would seeing her do me?” “You are right. Well, what do you suggest then? You seem to have a head for planning.” ‘‘Let’s both go over there to Nuggetville, and you get me a chance to have a good look aut her face and 111 mighty soon decide wheth- er she’s the critter or not.” ‘Done. Come along,” They rose and left the room, and half an hour later found them in Nuggetville and at the Bungalow Hotel. Joel Hicks went ahead and entered the bar-room, and Barth Dimund coming on a little later, applied at the main door of the shebang and made inquiry for Pistol Polly. She was there and soon made her appear- ance. | hy Good-evening, Mr. Dimund!” she greet- ed. ‘‘Same to you,” was the easy response. ‘f Any objection to sittin’ down here on the piazza for achat? I’ve come over a-purpose to see you ”’ ‘‘Not the slightest objection. Rather chat with yon thin witha good many men I know, Barth Dimund, But, how is it you can tear yourself away from Rosy Posy this evening?” “Why?” ‘* Isn’t the Town Hall to be opened, with a young lady to give dancing lessons? Seems to me it will be a red letter night in your ome history ” , ‘ “© Yes, maybe it will, but, business before pleasure, you know.” | “‘Then you have come to see me on busi- ness?” ss I bh ve.”’ ‘* And what is it?” : “You have not forgotten our talk?” : ‘*No; but, surely you have gotten over that foolish idea, haven’t you?” ‘‘That Llove you?” in low tone. ‘ Not abit of it. I want to know again if you will marry me,” ! | ‘*What’s the use? I’m free, and I mean to remain so. I like you, and I’m willin to let you love me all you want to, but don’t propose to give any man a monopoly of my regard,” ‘* You did so once,” The woman gave a start. ‘* What do you mean?” she demanded, _ ‘Just what Isay. Are you free to marry if son would?” he paled a little, but her answer was quick, ** Yes, I’m free, former No man has any claim “© Then to the devil you will go, for that’s | on me—or if he has I'd like to see him try to the price, if you do the brown for me.” ‘* And what’s the job?” , “To put this Pistol Polly out of the way,” cautiously whispered, | ‘The deuce!” “That was what I said. She has got to go, orl won't be in it. You don't know what a devil she is, when she wants to be.” «You talk as if you do know something about her.” And I do. job and do it up — But, this is not to the point, Will you undertake to do the job for me?” “Yes, for that price.” ‘Then it’s a bargain. Pistol Polly ?” “ Certainly.” ‘‘ And you can arrange it so that I can get a look at her?” | “That will be easy; T’ll go over and- 4 ; | Pg . : ys . : »} * ; - ely , i ; ‘ - P , : 7 3 auf . “Ss yt oP ri wach Xx s a i ys te. Fas hy 4 » SO: a ™ tie i Hd ‘, eT i _ é 4 a? , - zt es "dt ea , ie " ~ es 4 OP See » * ¢ | die Aa - 4 ‘ , P an 7 Pe VAS 4 , : be AS ae a eee ————— | You know this |. foreclose, that’s all.” _** Well, now, see here, Pistol Polly: I’m either for you or against you, and I bad rather be on your side. There is trouble hatching for you, and I can be of use to you, if you'll let me.” ‘*Tll let you, certainly, but what are you talking about?’ ‘ ‘You'll let me, no doubt: you would willingly take my services, for nothing; but, 1am not going to have it that way.” — ‘¢T fail to hold fast. Barth,” ‘Then I'll try to give you a better grip. SO you can you want it.” She gave another start. — ‘‘And. I want a slice of it myself,” the ‘‘As it stands naturally, you come in for only a small share | man immediately ndded. of it Ican make it possible for you et the whole.” R | es e s oT aaa. . uM he af 4 4 4! af ' af ‘ ‘ ; u wee ap “ ; Fal ae :? vplle- of ; et , * . , S pe ‘ta CASS . 7 ‘ Ves a 1% ink @ b eget a! LAT ret (POG SUSE Ry GOT aR RECLE C (tt SIRT AERA TIN 4 Ye Se * a ve s f | 4 vt Mw . 4 “| ; 5 , ee > ¥ "] ; \ *¥ 4 - : ‘tdi ad se Pa he cen MF 3 By VAs ne Sl Re Doe Sys Wr TiS. oad wil There is a fortune at stake, and . - Ld ad . » av 7 She was now pale to the lips, and looked at Dimund wonderingly. ~ “You see I know what I am talking about, Pistol Polly,” that worthy boasted. ‘* Now it is for you to say whether I shall be for you or against you.” i ‘* What are your terms?” ‘Murry me, and give me a half share with yourself, and Pll see to it that you get every doliar of the fortune.” ‘*And if [ won’t do that?” ‘‘Then I’m on the other side, and shall have to work against you, for a considera- tion.” Pistol Polly’s face settled into a hard, grim expression, ind with her lips drawn in a firm line, she said: ‘Then you want to force me to terms to suit you.” ‘‘T want to give you the chance to accept my regard and be my wife. I care not what your past is.” ‘* And if I’m not free?” ‘* By Judas, I won’t hesitate about making you so!” | ‘‘T wouldn’t object to your doing that for me, but I’m not in the matrimonial market ” ‘Then you refuse my offer, do you?” ‘‘How much are you getting from the other side?” ‘“No matter; I will make no other terms with you than I have offered.” | ‘** And suppose I deny the whole matter, and tell you that you are on the wrong trail, what then?” ; | ‘‘It won’t work. I have got the facts too straight, my pretty Polly, for that. Whether you know it or not, that pone woman at osy Posy ison the tall hunt for you, and she is likely to find you, too,” ‘Tell me, how came you knowledge?” a Sh!” A man had come out of the bar-room and was sauntering toward them, a fellow with a— tangle of hair and bushy whiskers, . | e came on, passed them, strode to the end of the piazza and back again, and Cisap- peared, saying never a word ond seemingly paying no attention to the couple seated ere, | ‘* Knows enough not to intrude where he isn’t wanted, anyhow,” growled Dimund, ‘Now, as you were saying, Pistol Polly?” ‘‘] demand to know how you came to learn all this.” art ‘That don’t matter, so long as I do know it and you know that I know 11,” ‘‘No, it matters not, for I am going to defy you. Go anhead and do your worst, | share neither with you nor any one— by all this else!’ “You will have nothing to share, my pretiy Polly.” Ne ‘‘All right; so be it! One thing is certain, I don't care a fig for you, and I, would not marry you anyhow, so that dog is dead, Now, what are you goipg todo about it, old man?” , | y ‘* You'll find out. to your sorrow, curse you!” growled Dimund, rising and turning away. ‘‘I have made you a fair offer, Pistol Polly, and you have seen fit to make me your foe rather than accept it, You'll hear something drop before this thing is end- ed.” | CHAPTER IX. OPENING ‘THE DANCING-SCHOOL.. ie Tumy had spoken in low tones, Dimund for one reason and the woman for another, and they could not have been overheard. ~Dimund left the piazza immediately and strode off up the gulch, while Pistol Poll looked after him with hatred, and her lau rested on a pistol. ‘ Mods _**Pve a notion to drop him,” she grated. | “7 would, too, only that I might get into — trouble, and that wouldn't pay, at this time, doubt.” But, I'll get‘a chance at him pretty soon, no Wo