Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 898 — page 9: what you’re looking at

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

i et, he’s goin’ to see you through, you kin ‘st i | others. | -varrive,”” advised Dick, coolly. he ie \ — ‘*That’s what’s ther matter!” cried the ‘Yes, but don’t get there before you “You say thus and so, butin the matter of proof you _, don’t produce anything. I say you are a _ liar. Now, what are you going to do about it?” | ' } ij ' ” , ; | | — “Pf they do, what more do \. That was the question. Dick held the best hand—a brace of fives! ~-There was an awkward pause, and the deputy did not see his way out of it. “‘T’ll tell you what you had better do,” -- suggested Dick; ‘“‘you had better forego the arresting for the present, Mr. Deputy, till this fellow brings up his proof. In the mean time I think your mayor here will an- swer for me; eh, mayor?” ‘That’s a good idea,” assented McKnight. ‘*So be it, Simpson.” CHAPTER X. ‘MURDER! MURDER!” By his looks it could be seen plainly enough that the deputy-sheriff did not take kindly to this proposition. ._ As for Dick Becker, there was no doubt as to his stand in the matter» The ex- ression on his face went to prove that fe stocd in favor of a ‘‘ hanging bee” there and then. ‘‘¥as, but ain’t my word no good?” de- --manded Becker, irately. ‘It ig no better than mine, sir, that is cer- ‘tain,’ Dick retorted. ‘‘Wull, et orter be, ef it ain’t. Pards, ef ‘ye leave ’em loose they will git away.” ou ask of them?” asked the mayor. ‘‘ That would itake the trouble off our hands in the easiest possible manner, wouldn’t it?” - “* An’ my pard’s hoss would be lost.” *‘ Don’t worry,” placated Dick. ‘* We are not going away ina hurry. Bring up your proofs and we will be here to meet them. In ' the mean time, if you have any horse-flesh to - -_— _ wi’ him, Jimmie ” _ the deputy-sheriff an dicker trot it around.”’ This brought a dang from the crowd, and those with him could do nothing. “*Wull, you'll regret et, when he cleans out ther camp,” growled Becker. ‘ He orter swing, that’s what he had, an’ his pard with chim, You'll find him out ‘fore you git done McKnight.” ee Very likely.” | / With'a growl Becker turned and left the room, and McKnight drew aside to a distant: seat with Simpson. “‘ What the bh A 400.7” | °* “* So I see; but whois back of it?” _ “The Sparkler.” . ie | “ That’s what I thought. She has made a mistake, and this thing must be nipped in euce is up?” the mayor asked. = . ‘the bud. I'll see her at once.” -* She has got it in for this fellow, bad.” Suppose she has. : _ speak to her before | left the Hall, let up on the business, and fix Becker, and Had no chance to But, you fixed it, somehow. Til pret that I have Ch glory ith this fellow.” | That will give me a pull w any 4! right,” _ * Better to have him with us than against us, you know.” ‘So [should say. He’s a tough custo- _mer to buck against.” _ ‘Well, see Becker and give him a ten, which I'll make good to you, and he’ll have to own that he was mistaken.” | \ Allright. It don’t make any difference to him, solong as he gets the money. He was to get more, but Tl scare him out of the difference by telling him this fellow is _gunnin’ for him.”” ‘""«Halba! Yes, east it to him that way.” _ They parted, and McKnight rejoined Bris- / . . | bens OF it Hg! r , 4 : as df “air . . wf 7 Fy é > t« . ° a a 7 » 4 cs = ’ S > <e.. ae F PA . ‘i Yon te Petey ad ny a ‘rsa » Ni Pal cat ins al we my i Moet x fs = ny is th +," ya 4 i -, : nd Pe | ~ w ] ,;# . Nowa Sl eee ye) > ee he I b Rt fy ast 1 “apa epee | * Pr tite, 1) pert bay - 4 Gk a SF ghee ire OR ae ial nee bh os Pre PES a. re etal . Shaan Pp a . , Be Min! Se o ‘ - - P . aft 2 + : ts p —- P ‘ ° a Se] ~ i} (ae aa . ~~. 1.74 ~ ‘ > 7) - » ed ~ "> vor « ‘T guess it is all right,” he said. ‘‘I have fixed the deputy; told him I was sure Becker was mistaken, and that I would be responsible for youand your pard. He will see Becker at once and that will end it, I guess,” ‘‘Good enough. Much obliged to you for the favor. But, take my word for it, there was nothing in the fellow’s charge.” ‘‘T’ll take your word for it; dun’t care a cent one way or the other.” ‘Allright; but that’s straight.” McKnight went out, returning to the Cos- mopolitan, where the games were still in progress. When, finally, Sparkler Sal closed her bank, McKnight accompanied her over to the Hardscrabble Inn, where she had a room, and as they left the Hall the woman said: “Well, have they jugged them?” ‘* No, and won’t. You made a mistake in that move.” ‘*A mistake? I guess not!” McKnight explained what he meant. ‘But, how did Ce get at it so quick?” he asked. ‘‘It could have been made a bad ene against the fellow if I had pushed t. ” ‘‘T knew that, and certainly thought you would push it. The idea came to me, and Seeing Becker at the same time I put him up to the business. That man is dangerous for us,” ‘* You think so?” ‘*T’d swear to it, almost.” ‘‘T think you are mistaken. He is not ex- actly on the square, and he is falling into a friendly line with me so that I can make use of him if I want to.” ‘Well, I won’t put my judgment against yours, but I'll take good care that he gets no old upon me if I can help it.” Es right, Sal, be on your guard, But, I haven’t told you the news, which is more important than all this.” ‘* What’s that?” ‘‘Van Bascomb has come to my terms.” A cloud came over the face of the woman sport, while she said pleasantly ; ‘‘That’s good.” ‘Yes, and now it only remains for me to win the girl and our way will be wide open. You can do about as you please with the old man, that is sure.” se Yes, I think I can. He is stuck on me, ‘*T see he is.” ‘ How about the miners?” “The trouble will be settled in the morn- ing, and I will be the most popular man in the camp. Then you want to get in our fine work just as soon as possible,” * Tll do it, you bet!” Next morning the men of the Marguerite went to work as usual. There was no excitement in the camp, and it was as though no trouble of any kind was under the surface, At an early hour Sam Claffinger‘and two others from the mines made their appearance at the mine office, where the mine-manager was waiting to receive them. There was a goodly crowd outside, and in the office were Mayor McKnight, Zeke Hummingbird, and some others who were especially interested in the matter and eager to see how it would come out. te Van Bascomb met the committee at the door, before they could enter. Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Double Drive. | ‘‘That’s what I said; and you know what that will mean for Hardscrabble—it will be a good deal harder scrabble for you boys than it is now. But, I don’t want you to take my word for it, so let the mayor tell you.” ‘And that I’ll do, willingly,” spoke up McKnight. ‘‘Wull, what is et?” asked Claffinger. ‘* Well,” said the mayor, ‘‘I have seen something of the private accounts of the Marguerite, and I tell you honestly, I was surprised, You know what a boom means, don't you? Well, this mine is a boom, and that’s all it is for It pays, of course, but — not as well as has been generally thought.” ‘* Ts that ther fact?” “ Nothing but the cold, hard truth. Such a demand as you have made would shut it down this day and for all time. It is out of the question, But, if you will take an in- crease of five per cent. all around, until such time as the mine pans richer, if it ever does, that will work good for you and good for the mine, too. It will boom the boom along, and the extrawill buy your tobacco and some- ae more,” ‘* Look hyer, mayor, ar’ you givin’ us a straight deal?” “ Straight as can be, and right from the top of the deck. Now, you can make or you can break Hardscrabble, just as you please.”’ . ‘Tell ye what I’ll do, boss: I'll call out every man of ’em, and let ’em speak fer themselves. This is more of a come down than they have ’llowed me ter make fer ’em, an’ so I can’t do nothin’, you see.” ‘‘ Call them out!” the mine-manager re requested. The word was passed in a hurry, and the miners, who had been idly waiting to learn the result, but out of sight, were on the ground in short order. When the situation was fully explained to them, some fellow in the crowd proposed that the proposition be accepted, and imme- ae a the whole crowd gave a whoop of ap. roval. | It proved to those who saw through it all, that McKnight had a grip upon the camp that would indeed be hard to break.” ‘That settles et!” said Sam Claffinger, | ‘‘an’ I’m glad et is settled, After I had slept on ther strike, I wasn’t near so full o’ fightas I had been afore. Now, I say three cheers fer McKnight!” | | The cheers were given; but, just as the last shout ended a woman’s scream was heard, and a woman came running breath- less in the direction of the office, crying: _ ‘Murder! murder! murder!” = CHAPTER XI. HARDSCRABBLE SHAKEN, In a second everything else was for- gotten, | Every eye turned’ in the direction of the woman, and she was recognized by all pres- ent, Eta ye BS It was Van Bascomb’s housekeeper. “ What’s the nate “a the mine: manager, running forward. ‘** Miss Clara! eM God, sir, she has been murdered in her bed as she slept! | Ob! what hall I do?” ; The mine-manager had clapped his hand v’ | to his head, and was reeling like a drunken The others within the office stepped out- side, a plan that had been arranged so that all mi “1 hear. | sé ull, manded Claflinger, . ‘‘T am going to be honest with you, my | men,” was the answer. ‘‘ We must come to a fair compromise, or the mines must be abandoned.” nt ‘“What! ’Bandon ther Marguerite?” boss, what’s ther’ word?” de- ‘hands and exclaiming excitedly, man; and he would have fallen had not ‘‘Horse Strader’”—to give him that name still, sprung forward and caught him, The whole crowd stood as if struck — - umb. Never, in all its history, had Hardscrabble seen a moment like this. Clara Van Bascomb was loved by every man, woman and child in the camp, almost, and the shock was paralyzing.” The housekeeper was still pape her | and for f : “) ws od caw 2 : P A a Sai ete r 77 ‘ ? alt Ke 7 of Pi. a ‘of 4) Le } a erty i. Pha : ed ’ 6, -a° rs bd % | i | ) ) r ve » fied q | m . ns —_—_— —% — ——- a . - 4 “ < " , , * 3 - he z "rf ; + “ P er, - ¥ . 4 ‘ ‘ 7A ‘ 4 ‘ afi ‘ea 4 am, - ‘a . : ' ‘ * 4, 4 j > « 4 « a ~ MM ' ’ ‘ , a? J pes Ta P. A a a a -c* 5 . Yer Le. 4 a E> 7 “ : * I » « | r * * Ps