Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 891 — page 8: what you’re looking at

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

ae »- I >. s : e s + a“ : ‘ 2 . : F 4 . An ee . A We 2 ko iter os - 70%, 2 * *< ’ ‘ ° aN a? me + as , 2 : , Fey i ye ‘ a. oe - en : . = en Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Dead-Sure Game. Pistol Polly was a well-known character. She was not a lovable creature by any means, good-looking as she was. And she was one to stand no fooling, as more than ene man could testifiy, and as some others could not—owing to the fact that she had made them ready for ‘‘ planting.” She was not called Pistol Polly for noth- ing; she had the lives of at least three or four men to her account, and the rough characters of the gulch took care not to make themselves too familiar. Her pistol was ever too handy. On this occasion she toyed with the weapon for a few moments, while she looked at the retreating form of the man who had just left her; then she removed her hand, with a sniff of disdain. ‘‘Not worth the risk to do it,” she de- clared to herself. ‘‘ But, he’ll get it, that’s sure. I’d give a good dealto know how he came by that knowledge. Can it be that— But, no; he hadn't any more brain than the Lord allows the average man. And it isn’t likely that she would take such a fellow in as partner. ‘There’s mystery back of it all.” She paced the piazza for a few moments, then entered the house in a manner to sug- gest that a thought had struck her, The next moment Joel Hicks came forth from the bar-room and hurried up the gulch. | - When he reached the outskirts of the camp he fell in with Dimund. The latter was waiting. ‘Well, you got a good look at her, didn't you?” Dimund asked at once. ‘‘ You saw that 1 held her attention.” ‘* Yes, I got a good look—one half as good would have done the business just as well.” ‘* And she’s the gal?” ‘* She’s the one,”’ ‘* Then that much of it is settled.” “But, you seem to be friendly with her; what’s between you two?” ‘‘Ha!l ha! That’s a fine Of course we’re friendly, an of the same kind.”. ‘‘Not a doubt of it,” sullenly. ‘I’m nothing to her any more, and it is a late day for me to kick. But, Tll pay her off for the whole score. You don’t mean to back out, do you?” ‘*Not by along sight!” ‘Good enough! Then, we have only to work the scheme with care, and we'll be all hunk for the rest of our lives.” ‘* That is tosay, if the other one will marry you, which, ip my opinion, is not at all like- How PR ee going to plan itif she kicks over the traces?” ‘“‘ Let her kick, if she wants to, once I get hold of the papers. [ can prove my marriage to the other, and if both are out of the way, and I produce a kid to\come in for the property— See?” , .** You seem to know what you are talking about,”’ ‘* Bet your life 1 do!” uestion to ask. she has more Rosy Posy was in an uproar and a blaze of light / “Torches burned here and there along the main street, and were numerous in front of the Town Hall. That institution shone forth resplendent, from the numerous lamps within, and an eager crowd was at the door ready to pour in -as soon as it was opened for their admission. Said Bir- foot Ben: ‘“’m in a fever to git in thar an’ sashay around a leetle,- Bet my boots that ’ar gal don’t have ter give me no lessons; 1 know et all a’ready!’’ ***In yer mind ye do,” some one sneered. ‘‘ And in these hyer feet o’ mine, too, you kin bet!” “Ther goodness help ther lady, ef you ocr step on her wi’ one o’ them things, en," | ‘‘Don’t you worry ‘bout my steppin’ on . a : her. Bet you adollar she says I'm the best dancer in ther hull darn town, an’ take et up ef ye dare ” : ‘*T'll take that ’ar bet!’’ ‘‘ All right; hyer’s ther mon; cover et.” And so they rattled on, from one thing to another, while @hey waited. Finally the door opened, and the man whose name they had learned was Dick Bris- tcl, appeared on the steps. ‘*Now, gentlemen,” he said, ‘‘we are ready to admit you, but we ask that you do not make arush. Come in orderly, and re- main on the outside of the roped circle you will see as soon as you step within. Now then, in you come, at a dollar a head.” And at that rate they filed in, orderly enough, every man of them paying his dol- lar cheerfully. ; The inside of the hall looked inviting. There were some seats, on the outside of the rope, and within the roped circle the floor was as clean and smooth as it could be desired, One thing that some of the thinking ones looked for on entering, and which they failed to see, was where the music was com- ing from—not that it was expected yet, but they failed to discover any~signs that it was on tap and ready for the eager and waiting pupils, But the music was all right, and would be heard all in good season, Lucy Love had not come to Rosy Posy entirely alone; a man of middle age, one of the outside passengers, was.in her em- ploy. They had not been seen to speak to each other since the arrival of the stage, however, and of course this could not be guessed. And the unknown object which that man had carried under his arm, wrapped in a cloth, was a zither. Finally, when the crowd had been ad- mitted, Deadwood Dick placed another man at the door—a fellow recommended by Mar- shal Mackerel. Dick then passed around and entered the rop¢ circle, hat in hand, and a round of ap- plause greeted him. ‘*Men of Rosy Posy,” he said, ‘‘ you will now please come to order, and Miss Lucy Love will take charge of the hall and form her free class for this evening.” ~ ‘Three cheers fer Lucy Love!” ** Whoop ’em up!” And they were given with a will. ‘* Lucy Darlin’!” some fellow piped up on the tail end of the last yaup. “Thank you for your applause,” said Dick, ‘* but please hear what I have tosay and let me get out of the way. This evening, as said, the class will be free, but after to-night the iessons will be charged for. Private les- sons can be arranged for at any time.” - “That's what I want,” cried Big-foot en. “‘An’ that’s what you'll have to take,” de- clared another voice, ‘‘fer you will want the hull room to yourself when you dance!”’ ‘Thought you was the best dancer in the camp, Ben,” reminded another. ‘* An’ how "bout that dollar you have bet?” - _——— —— - ; ‘‘That’s all right,” the big fellow declared, | ‘You wait till you see me on ther floor, then talk ”’ Deadwood Dick smilingly waved them to silence again, and concluded what he had to say in the way of brief opening address. ‘*One thing more, and I’m done,” he said. “‘Remember, men of Rosy Posy, that you are gentlemen, and that this is not ashow, Lucy Love is a lady, trying to earn an honest living by this means, and as a lady I expect her to be treated. But, it is unnecessary for me to remind you of this, of course. Now, then, I will make way for the lady pera With another bow and sweep of his sem sombrero, Deadwood Dick hurried out of the inclosed space, At the same time the young woman made _- ‘ x — Se RE Gabe one Re ree ai gate nw nee een EERIE EERE : , + . <1 ~ 4 a S of é + as 4 A »4 -# ‘ 5 - Lt hy gs « iam ty> vers om a ED ee _ f3 ; her appearancé from a rear room, followed — by the man we bave mentioned. He carried his zither, now not covere |. A chair and a table had been placed for him at the rear corner of the rope inclosure, where the ends of the rope were secured to a post. To his place the musician stepped, while the young lady, now lLastefully attired, ad- vanced to the middle of the space, where she made her bow. This was the signal for another cheer, heartily given. CHAPTER X. BIG-FOOT BEN ON DECK. On leaving the dancing space, Deadwood Dick stepped immediately to where the mayor, Marshal Mackerel, was standing. ‘* Well; how is it?” he asked. ‘‘Do you see Nuggetville and Satan’s Pocket repre- sented here yet? See anything that looks at all like trouble in the air?” ‘‘Don’t spot aman of ’em, yet,” the mayor answered, ‘‘ Everything is serene so far, and if they putin their appear [ reckon we can handle ’em all right. We'll make a big try fer et, anyhow.” ‘‘ Well, 1 hope there won’t be any trou- ble, but if there is 1’m going to take a band in it, if I’m called on to defend that lady.” This last remark was made about the time the cheering ceased. The young woman spoke. | ‘‘T thank you, kind friends,” she said, pleasingly. ‘‘ And now Iam ready to be- gin the business of the hour. You under- stand, you have to pay nothing for lessons this evening, but I must limit the class to twenty, for [ cannot handle more of you at one time. You will now be treated to a little music by Mr. Brown.” | She waved her hand in the direction of the man at the table. Immediately he struck the strings, and a delightful strain sprung forth, filling the large hall with sweetest music. The crowd for the most part was made up of the roughs and toughs of the mining- camp, but under the spell of such music they forgot themselves and for the once were as quiet as Jambs. When the player ceased, a sigh was heard, ‘Darn me ef that wasn’t somethin’ scrumptious!” one fellow was heard to ex- claim, “ You kin bet your life et was!” cried Big foot Ben. ‘‘ Had jest all I could do ter keep my feet still, they wanted ter waltz thet bad!” ‘You homely galoot, that wasn’t no waltz, but a polka!” ‘‘No matter; they wanted to git thar jest ther same.” The young woman waved silence. ‘‘Now, gentlemen, who will form my first class?” she asked. ‘‘Mind, do not all speak at once, and bear in mind that I will allow no fighting for place. The first man to make trouble will bave to apologize to me.” ‘Count on me fer one,” cried Big-foot Ben, leaping out into the space with a force that made the floor tremble under his weight. ‘* Yas, an’ hyer’s me, too,” yelled another, The start having been made, the applicants came faster than they could be numbered, andin less than a quarter of a minute the limit had been exceeded by a dozen at least. ‘* Stop!” the little lady cried. ‘* Stop!” The stampede was checked, as she held up both hands to enforce her order, and order was restored, | ‘“Now, gentlemen, form in line,” she directed, ‘“‘and | will count off twenty of you, beginning on the right, and the rest will bave to wait till néxt class.” ) ‘‘All right, lady; that takes me in, any- how,” said Big-foot, satisfied to have it so, seeing that he wasyin the right wing of the line of applicants for instruction in the Terpsichorean pastime. ° . “ ‘ 60 bore ag ee ta > wie