Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 898 — page 14: what you’re looking at

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

. aur ee ‘ : : 2 - =a (ee aa A fF ’ ; ra } - Jae ge ‘ * | 7 : es ' _ , 4 ; : - “ = . * — ‘ 7 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Double Drive. - ae ‘*T kept one secret, didn’t I?” ** Yes, you did that.” “*Then I kin keep another, an’ don’t you aloubt et. You fork over ther hundred, an’ Tl do ther rest.” ‘‘ Allright. Here is the money, and here is the knife. Mind you, do not use your own knife, for then suspicion might fall on you. Use this, and leave it in the body.” A cool proceeding, assuredly ! “Tlldo et, gal, jest as you say. Nuff said. You go back to your business an’ leave me to do ther rest.” ‘* All right; I trust you.” They parted, the woman entering the sa- Joon and the man sneaking off in the dark- ness. It was later when ‘‘ Horse Strader” made his way in the direction of the Van Bascomb . cottage, He was apparently not anxious to be seen, as he was taking a rear approach, avoiding the main street, and yet a watcher could not have guessed his intention. He had come to one of the most lonesome spots on the way from the camp center to the cottage, when a stealthy form appeared behind him, creeping nearer and nearer as. slyly as a cat. Which would have been) an interesting fact to an observer. Presently, after this form, came another, ‘with more speed, yet fully as silently as the first—more so, if possible. The first crept on, gaining rapidly upon the evidently unsuspecting Deadwood Dick, and at last he gave a leap forward, raising his arm as he did so, and a dull flash reveal- ed a knife. But, the third follower was also at hand. As silently as a shadow he had flitted, and as the knife was raised he threw himself upon the would-be assassin. The latter gave an ejaculation of surprise and fear; the intended victim wheeled sud- denly and laid hold upon him, but— It was needless to make him prisoner now; the hae of the other had done its terrible work, ' They allowed the body to drop to the ground, , : ‘*Mike, you have saved my life once | more!” said Deadwood Dick, extending his hand ‘Which don’t begin ter pay ther debt,” ‘was the response, as the two grasped hands, ‘‘T had my eye on you, s’pectin’ mebby that cuss would do that or somethin’ of ther sort.”’ ; . ‘ And you have done well. But, you must not be caught.” ? ‘*T won’t be, you bet!” ‘‘ Where's your disguise?” ‘‘Up the trail where we left ’em, I sup- pose.” “We'll go up there—but no, not neces- sary that I should; you go, and come back here to the cottage.” ‘All right.” They were about to part, when three men pounced out of the darkness upon them, with shouts. . ‘‘ Hyer he is!” yelled one, bite Hears ther ’scaped prisoner, we’ve got im!” | ‘Yas, and t’other one, too!” the third. “* He’s as bad as ther first!” . 4 ‘* Hold up, you idiots!”’ Tt was Deadwood Dick who ordered, and his revolvers were to the front at once and covering them. ‘«That’s what’s ther matter,” echoed Mon- grel Mike. “Ef you think you have got me, look out, fer ye might be mistooken, That’s what Dick Becker thort, but et was me had him!” | | ‘* What do you want?” demanded Dick. ‘‘T think [understand your meaning. You can’t have him,” ‘‘ We'll have ye both, blast ye! We have found ye both plannin’ together, an’ we mean ter see ye both swing,” ‘If you' take my advice you will get out of this about your business, and that in a muenty hurry.” ‘* We mean ter have ye, d’'ye hear?” Their voices were loud, and it was plain that they were trying to draw help in that direction. ‘‘T’ll give you ten seconds to dust,” cried Dick, ‘‘ and if you don’t do it we’ll open fire on you, and we’ll shoot to hurt, too. you can depend on it.” . ‘* Let ’er drive!” As one man the three sprung forward, straight at Dick, two of them, the other at ike, The Mongrel dropped his man on the spot with a bullet between the eyes, but Dick did not fire to kill. His weapons spoke rapidly, and the men dropped their guns, Fach had received a bullet in his arm! But, the danger was not over, for men were running in that direction, now, and some were near at hand. The wounded men whooped and yelled in a way calculated to rouse the whole popula- tion of the gulch, while Dick and his pard took to their heels and ran up the gulch as fast as they could ‘‘ hoof it.” : When the discovery of the dead and wound- ed men was made, the excitement became in- tense, and the feeling bitter. ° Mayor Zeke Hummingbird was one of the first on the spot. ‘‘What’s this hyer mean?” he demanded. ‘*Et means that we almost had them/ two cusses,” explained one of the wounded men, between his groans of pain. ‘* They ar’ lightin’ out up, ther gulch, both of ’em, an’ they ar’ the ones what’s done all ther mis- chief in this\hyer camp.” ‘‘ What did I tell ye?” howled the deputy sheriff, Simpson. ‘*Come on, my boys, aa’ ef we don’t overhaul ’em et will be’cause we can’t, that’s all!” And that was the reason they didn’t, too; they couldn't find them. he two men had disappeared utterly. é CHAPTER XVII. THE DOUBLE HOLD-UP. Hap any one met ‘ Horse Strader” when he made his way back again into the camp, that One would not have recognized him, Instead of the rough-clad man he had at first appeared, he now ‘ooked the elegant sport, not of the ‘‘ sharper” kind but one of the respectable sort. The big slouch hat, the rough jacket and trowsers, the blue shirt and rough top-boots with their spurs, and the pistol swung at his hip—all these had given way to something different. ; He wore now a neat, dark suit, with ‘‘bjled” shirt and standing collar, and his feet were cased in a pair of fine boots, He carried a slender cane with a suggestive ball on the end of it. But, he met no one—one reason was be- cause he made it a point to avoid meeting 9s Ae if possible. s direction was toward the Van Bas- comb cottage. He grew cautious as he drew near, fora double reason. He did not care to be seen, nor did he want to alarm any one who might be in hiding. hat he suspected some one would be in hiding, was certain, for he kept the keen est watch around as he went forward, and his step was so light that it would have taken a quick ear to discover it. — ee i eC eee Ce eC beeded no proving; his position was the proof in itself. But, who was he? Dick could not determine, for it was out of the question to see his face. The detective withdrew as silently as he had come, Presently another shadowy form came forward out of the gloom, and Deadwood Dick made a chirp like that of the cricket. It was answered in like manner; then the second man came in his direction and joined him. It was ‘‘ Mongrel Mike,”—he, also, in a different attire. ‘* What is et?” Mike asked. ‘¢There isa man watching the house,” an- swered Dick. ‘¢ You think he’s one?” ‘‘He is not the person who made the first attempt, but it is possible that the other has hired him for this effort.” ‘‘Then you want to capture him, of course?” ‘That is it. We'll creep forward upon him before he is aware Of it, and he will be our game,” ‘*?m with ye, pard!” With this understanding they moved for- ward again, Deadwood Dick leading but the other right by his side. Each carried aready gun in hand. ate Like cats they moved to the spot where Dick had first stopped, but the man they were in search of was no longer in his place. That he was gone was certain; but, where had he gone to? It was hardly to be supposed that he had undertaken his hellish mission, if it was his mission to murder Miss Van Bascomb, thus early in the evening. . They moved yet a little nearer, and a sur- prise awaited them, Of a sudden a man leaped out before them, weapons raised, and in a whisper he ordered: | | ‘* Up with your hands!” Even before he could utter the words, how- ever, Dick and his man had put up their hands—with a revolver to the fore! “Tt will work both ways,” said Dick, likewise in whisper. ‘Who are you?” was demanded, _ ‘ Are you Henry Keefer?” asked Dick, be- lieving that he recognized the voice. ‘Yes, Lam he, ho are you?” ‘*A friend,” answered Dick, sede digg gun and thrusting it into his pocket. Mike id the same. Dick held out his hand, but Keefer was wary. ‘T’m willing to greet you friend after i am satisfied that you are such,” he said, still holding the drop, which he had now to a cer- tainy. de you have the proof of it in the fact that — we have put up our weapons,” argued Dick, ‘¢ We could have made it interesting for you had we been so inclined. I am Horse Strader and pard.” ‘The deuce!” | ; ‘‘The fact.” | ‘‘ And what are you doing here? ‘The same as you; we came to guard Miss Van Bascomb.” , } ‘‘Ha! Then it is all right!” lowering his pistol. ‘‘ That is what I am doing myself.” ‘* We are aware of it, now.” ‘‘ And do you think another attempt will be made on her life?” ‘ ‘. ‘Tam almost certain of it, and that is the reason I and my man are here on the round,” ; " “You will he lodged in jail if discover- ed. | ‘‘Would you recognize us as the same men?” * NU | ‘‘ Well, no; that’s true; would not.” ‘‘Nor would any one else be likely to re- cognize us, by night. te ~~ f 3 Present] stopped short; for just ahead, : Have you any sus- \) ‘That prisoner.” : in the shadow of an arbor, he discerned the | picion against any one? Ne (>, on ce ” 6" ” pee And if I give him up to you?” crouching figureofaman. | ‘Yes, 1 have.’ | f We'll take care of him, you bet!” That the fellow was watching the house} ‘* Whom? pepe “Ss be Se ; a ae ial 2a ROE erme ESR eee OMICDOOKS,