Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 904 — page 14: what you’re looking at

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

— we ? ~ fe gee ee ‘ TT ve - EE LY SS aE Fee et Ae nen eh mah es nm ee - —e_ =~ ; . é' ——— : why h Whe tg : : pale i¢ “ Deadwood Dick, J rs, Trade-Mark. —~— ~ —— —" 14 = ~ 7 . 4 s p= FS. + eee a - a <r toe ? ; P Z —_—-— ‘ dew -- = -— — . if ¢ _ will have one of yer five-spots poked under » wes T seen ’em at their work last night in the saloon, stealin’ the watches—” : ‘* Ha! it was as I thought. : ne ‘‘Yes, they was the boys what done ther trick, an’ when they got done I let ’em know that I was onto ’em, an’ this mornin’ they bought my silence. I s’pose it was when we was at ther store that they put the watches in your bag.” ** Not a doubt of it.” ‘‘Well, they paid me to keep still, an’ thinkin’ they had a grip on me they unfold- ed this hyer other business tome, They are a p'izen pair, sure as you live, an’ you want to keep your eye pecled fer ’em all the time, no matter if they have ’gaged me.” “T'll try to. But, what is the death signal to be?” ‘‘ Yes, that’s a p’int you must know, so’s to be on the lookout fer et, and I will change ther programme any way ter suit you.” ‘* All right, we’ll be able to give them more than they have bargained for, I fancy. The fact of the business is, we’ll turn the tables on them and they will suffer accord- wc ht | ‘© You don’t mean to kill ’em?’” “ No; take them prisoners.” @ ‘*That’s better, fer 1am not wiflin’ to go inter blood.” ‘* Not necessary. I'll have them well in “eso by that time, and there will be some fun.” ‘‘Well, fer ther signal. It is ter take place this evenin’, when you will most pro- bably be at,the Cocktail Saloon.” “Tl likely be there.” ‘‘T any to come in and lure you out, with a lie of some sort, and lead you to the edge of a big hole, to which a tunnel will be made in ther meantime.” ‘Quite an interreting programme, cer- tainly.” ‘They will foller, and at the right mo- ment I’m ter drop down on the ground and they will open fire on you, an’ over into the hole you will go, with bullets in yer biler.” ; And your dropping will be the sig ‘‘ Yes, an’ when I drop they will let drive. But, I have thought of a trick worth twoiof that.” . ‘© What is it?” : ‘‘They ar’ to foller, as I told ye.” ‘“*'Yes.” ‘‘ But they won’t ketch up. I was sure of I’m to stop with you at the edge of the hole, an’ keep | ‘you thar a minute till they come in sight.” ** But it will be dark.” ‘* 71] liave a lantern, an’ I’ll see ’*em soon’s they round a bend that will be made near the hole. They have laid it all out fine, ye or ‘You will be missin’, an’ that will be all of it.” , ** And what is your scheme?” Well, [ll tell ye: Vl rig up adummy there, an’ Ill dig a niche in the snow fer you ter hide in as we go along. That will be z just short of the bend, an’ you kin let ther. ‘rascals pass ye.” ‘* I see.” ‘‘Then you will be behind ’em. [ll drop, holdin’ the light so’s they kin aim well, an’ they'll peg away at the dummy, an’ [ll ush it over into the hole with my foot. Then up I’ll get and run back towards ’em with the light, and by that time you will ; chip in.” ' You can bet your life I will!” cried Dick, | ly. “hits You will ’a’ stole up behind ’em, an’ you the ear of each man.” ’ “Tt is a good plan, Fire eater, and it is - bound to work. You carry out your part, and [ will fall in with your scheme in a way r :. that will make them think they have got an a ‘ares Fas "se, wise Ges it 3 All right; then that's understood. t= hs a a? 2, q 4 ’ “t. “is . an — os - * - 4; | a 4 4 s , . ~ - , ro . ‘. Z 4 a ¢ . ie," 5 as “" j TE —- A —_ > ered FAN ra d ev AP TARVS SG: Gee er eas een f « -. ten" ol ee Dick took his leave, returning to the saloon alone, and Terrell and Clancy were there, playing a game at poker. There wis a-greater crowd present than on the previous evening, fornow all the men who had been at home then had dug their way out and had congregated at this popular rendezvous. Deadwood Dick passed through and into the kitchen, where he had a brief talk with Chin Shang. As he returned to the main room Shamus McCall came in. ‘‘ Begorra, Oi wish dhere was a docthor in dhis camp,” the Irishman declared with concern. ‘‘ What do you want with a doctor, Sha- mus?” inquired Buck Williams. “ o is sick? Is Jake Phillips any worse?” . ‘Oj don’t know anyt’ing about Jake Phillips,” returned Shamus, ‘‘ but Oi do know dkat wan av dhem wimmin what came to me shanty last noight is moighty sick.” Shamus had before mentioned these wo- men, Everybody had forgotten about them, however, or had shown no interest. ‘‘ What seems to be the matter?” asked the Five-Spot Sport. ‘ Oiam afraid it is all up wid her, sor. She was cl’ane gone whin dhey got to me dhure last noight, and she seems to kape on oin’ down, though Oi have done all Oi know ur dhe poor soul.” ‘‘ Suppose I go with you to see her?” ‘*T wish ye would.” ‘‘Tlldo it. I’m no doctor, but I have done a good deal in the way of nursing in my time.” ‘ And if anything is wantin’ in the way of whisky, or anything else this hyer ranch affords,” spoke up Buck Williams, ‘‘all you have got ter dois ter come and ask fer et, Shamus. ” | “'T’ank ye, Buck,” the Irishman rejoined, ‘*O?ll moind dhat,.” | With that he went out, Dick following. | ‘‘Dhere is somet’ing strange about dhese wimmin,” Shamus declared, as they passed along through the tunnel. ‘* How is that?” ‘Tt is dhe youngest wan Oi spake of.” ‘““And what is there strange about her? Some mystery attached?” ‘*Oi should say, begorra, dhat dhere was. It is somet’ing dhat Oi can’t git t’rough dhe | head av me,’’ ‘* Well, what is it?” ‘*Oi'll be tellin’ ye: Ye see, sor, Oi did not git much av a glimpse at thim last noight, fur Oi gave up me bed to thim and bunked mesel’ out in dhe lean-to beyanst and left thim alone.” “1 see.” / ‘But, awhile ago, Oi got me first good look at dhe young wan, fur ye know how dark it is here under dhe snow, sor, and phwat was me surprise to foind dhat Oi knowed her well.” “You knew her?” ‘* Dhat same Oi did—at any rate Oi t’ought Oi did.” ‘* But you were mistaken.” ' “Dhat same Oi was, it seems. Oi could have sworn upon me oath dhat it was Berg- man’s daughter.” ‘* Lillie Bergman?” ‘‘ Dhat same; and, Oi am not yet prepared to swear dhat it isn’t, although the young lady calls herself by avother name entoirely; aspen loike Dalie Douglas, Oi belave it , sor.” ig ‘CHAPTER XVII. | DEUCE-TREY’S SNAP. SHOT. NEEDLESS to say, all Deadwood Dick’s keenest interest was alive in an instant, and he was eager to reach the shanty. Here, most unexpectedly, / . 8 \ = - ; ' . - "> e é ° , v ‘ Cin d % - s) ; i “era - aS > 2 - re 2 ‘y > , a . 4 . y - 7 { ; ae * > - , ° ail go % , a . i =e Hh aa ) ee ale : ¢ 4 > br oS 4 4 te » 5 4 rg lan oy a bs a 2) mu. f.i 4 = 1. SA oe To ter = le el deel el = ae come in his | way the means of clearing up the mystery of Frank Douglas’s wife and daughter—or, at any rate, that of the daughter, for this was she. He said little more on the way, leaving Shamus to do the talking, and in due time their destination was reached. Shamus opened the door of his shanty and they entered. AS The room was one of fair size, and on a bed on one side lay the form of a woman. A younger woman sat beside her, on a stool, and a lamp ona rude table in one corner made the room tight, so that every- thing could be seen plainly. ‘it The young woman roseas they stepped in, ang: She looked toward them, and Deadwood Kis Dick recognized at once the face of Lillie , Bergman! | “They are twins,” he said to himself, in ee mind. ~“*It can be explained in no other e way— And yet, that cannot be, for then it would be no mystery to Douglas, or should not be.” He could not understand it, and from her face Dick looked to the face of; the older woman on the bed. It was instantly plain that death had set its seal there, and that the woman’s hours of life must be few. Ru 3 Dick recognized in her face the same gen- — eral cast of features seen in the faces of the two girls, and to the younger woman he a said: ae ‘Your mother?” a ‘‘ Yes, sir,” the tearful response. » Ae ‘« What is her name?” Dick next inquired. _ “Tt is Martha Douglas, sir.” ; € ‘¢ And yours?” te ‘“* Delia.” A aren See ‘Your father is dead?” ee: , aan “Do not speak his name to me; lnever = want to hear it!” Te al 4 Deadwood Dick was surprised, after the — b affection Frank Douglas had expressed for his child. eae And this mystery? It was deeper than) ever. If Douglas’s wife left him immedi- © ately after the birth of her child, how‘came, ~~ the daughter to know her? Why did the ~~ child hate the father? f ae } There was a possible way to find out. ; Dick sat down on the stool and felt of the woman’s pulse, and as he did so she opened = her eyes and looked at him, ME ee 8 “Do you think I will live?” she asked. || “T would not deceive you, madam.” th) prince of detectives answered, ‘‘You have but a brief time to live.” _ et ie At this the girl began sobbing aloud. =| ‘‘Thank you, sincerely,” said the woman. “Tf that is true, there is something I must disclose before I pass away, for my life has been a lie for many years and must right = a wrong I have done.” | aie : ‘Mamma?’ aoe Rize “Tt is true, my child, it is true. Ihave — Geceived you terribly. It was your father = who was honorable; 1 was the false one.” The girl sobbed as if her heart must break,, and tears appeared in the sick woman’s eyes, and coursed down her sunken cheeks as she lay bolstered upon the pillows, | |) ‘Where is your other child, madam? = asked Deadwood Dick. ere Ok She turned upon him with a look almost of terror in her eyes, and her breath came in | » gasps. ‘*What—what do manded. | x “TI know something about your pag ”— answered Dick. ‘‘If you have any By e repair the wrong you must disclose € thing.” | aoe “‘T will do so, I will gladly do so, n 1 You must hear my story, and I want ey to restore this child to her father, and per- | haps her sister can be found and they may | be happy, yet.” oa Bre oS ‘And their father is Frank Douglas?” BES: Vig Aber © you know?” she de- | i What mngueeen ma ee Fags