Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 904 — page 6: what you’re looking at

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

| Clancy. ‘We are merely demanding what is our own,” | | ‘* And we arrest you on suspicion that you are Howard Smithy,’’ added Terrell. ‘‘ Well, in the first place, J have nothin _ belonging to either of you, and in the secon . . e i pate I am not Howard Smithy. If you ave any proof to the contrary, just bring it out,’ ‘* You have our money,” growled Clancy. ‘‘Nothing of the kind, sir. It is my money, now. I risked mine against vours in poy: and if chance had favored you I would ave been without a dollar now, almost.” ‘* That’s right,” spoke up Fire-eater Flip, “that’s right.” | ‘*Do you call it a square deal, buys?” de- manded the sport. ‘‘ Was it not a fair game, all the way through?” . ‘* You bet et was!” was the shout. The Five-Spot Sport had fixed the big majority all right by his treat earlier in the evening. ‘* Still, if you are determined to have fur- ther satisfaction,” the sport continued, ad- dressing his foes, ‘‘ I'll tell you what Ill O ”? ** What will you do?” ‘‘ Tll separate my original money from my winnings, and we’}l shoot off for the balance; best shot to take the pile. Are you pretty good with the revolver? What do you say?” “ That’s fair enough,” shouted Ben Ban- ty, eager for the new fun, ‘* Do you mean to put up that mortgage oe the giri's hand, too?” demanded the gam- er. “* Not by a good dea’, sir.” *“* Then we won’t hear to any such arrange- ment. Up with your hands, now, or suffer the consequence.’ : Everything seemed to favor these two con- federates, just then. The sport was apart from the rest of the crowd, between them and the door that opened into the kitchen. The crowd was on the right, where they had gone to look at the snow when the door was opened—it was open yet, by the way; and the two men with guns in hand held the center. | Deuce-Trey raised his hands, seeming in no hurry about it, but as they came up, it was noted that a five-shooier had leaped to each! ‘* Now, then, blaze away!” he invited. Neverin the world were two men more amazed than were George Clancy and Rob Terrel just then. | And, in the same moment, the door open- ing into the kitchen was fiung open and Chin Shang, the Chinaman, sprung in, and took his place beside the sport, he having also a a gun to the fore! ‘* Allee samee me too!” he ejaculated hur- riedly. ‘‘’Melican tleat Chin Sbang all light; Chin Shang stand by ’Melican man evely time, you bettee!”’ The crowd had made a hasty scramble to- ward the end of the room, to get out of the way of chance stray bullets, for it certainly looked as if there was going to be a battle, ‘* What are you going to do about it?” de- _ manded the Five-Spot Sport. > ‘You are our prisoner,” declared Terrell, | but not with so bold an air as he had been _» wearing. ony ‘Your prisoner? Ha! ha! ha! That is pretty geod, I must say. How iong have I Wyk been your prisoner, [ would like to know? . Putup your guns, now, or we'll open fire “ae and have some music here!” ind mo ** You bettee!” “hei Suh ae ya ast Clancy dropped his arm with an oath and __ Yeturned his gun to his pocket. ____ Seeing that he was alone, then, Terrell did the same, and the Five-Spot Sport and his -- Chimee friend held the floor, | __ “Tam no man’s prisoner, yet,” assumed _ Dence-Trey; ‘t and, what is more, I am not Rp. going to be, either,” without a fight for it, PC TRE Parte aa = roe H So “Ap - > : , : ~ = en! 4 ; oe ts he ere ft ty rd ee | ute i & ¢ OS | ’ us hae i TK, astyt mee) pay Mls mee Ar vy , Pe a door, please,” He motioned with his revolver, and Clancy and Terrell stepped to the left. No sooner had they done so than the sport’s weapons began to bark, and five shots were fired in rapid succession. He had fired straight at the open door, and all wondered what it meant, but in the next moment, when they surged forward to see, they saw as it were his trade-mark there in the white wall of snow! There were five holes, appearing like black spots on the stainless snow, arranged in per- fect order like this: * * ‘There you have it,” the sport declared, as cool as ice. ‘‘ That is merely to show al that I can shoot a little bit, so you will now what kind of a snag you are running against.” He proceeded coolly to reload the empty chambers in his guns as he spoke. Terrell whispered a word to Clancy in that moment, and as one man both made a spring forward upon the sport together. They had hold upon him before he could move to defend himself. ‘* Whose prisoner are you now, Howard Smithy ?” demanded Terrell, exultingly. ‘‘I guess you will find that—” ‘‘That I am all alive yet!” finished the sport, as he roused to action. | j But, the Chinee was not idle. He leaped forward and pulled at Clancy, and the crowd was turning, with angry growls. With a sudden movement, just how it was done no man could rightly tell, the Five-Spot Sport sent Terrell headlong into the bank of snow in the open doorway, and turned im- mediately to seize Clancy. The Chinee was still clinging to him, but he let go as soon as he saw what the sport’s intention was, ' | Seizing him, Deuce-Trey, lifting him up bodily and whirling him over his head, sent him head-first after Terrell. How the crowd whooped! There they were, buried in the snow, with only their boots and a portion of their legs visible! ‘“Who will take a drink at my expense?” asked the sport, as if nothing had happened. The crowd as before made a dive for the bar, cheering us they did so. The sport tossed another coin to the pro- prietor. ; ‘“Those fellows will have this, sir,” said Bergman, - wit cern. ‘‘Not if they give me half a chance for it,” averred the sport, with assurance, ‘‘ I'll have a word to say to the boys about them, when they get out of their cold bath.” ‘‘You bettee not while Chin Shang is alound, allee samee!” .cried the Chinee. ‘*Me puttee bullet into ’em quickee, they go to play any tlicks on my fliend.” ‘‘Much obliged to you, John,” and the sport bowed approvingly. Hs yy ‘* Heapee welcome!” ‘ | By this time Clancy had floundered out of the snow, and Terrell followed him imme- diately. , The Five-Spot Sport was waiting for them, gun in hand, and as soon as they were upon their feet he held them up short, say- ing: , ‘* Now, you fellows, I want to give you a bit of advice: Don’t you ever try that trick on .with me again, or you won’t come out with whole skins, I warn you, And you, boys, give attention.” © **'You bet!” from the crowd. “‘If anything happens to me here, you know who my, only enemies are. Bring them up to account for it, if you happen to our life for some con- ‘ 4 , ; Cty: * : - \ ; / : ‘ ‘* vy hd | se - Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Trade-Mark. Just step aside from between me and that | find me with my toes turned up. I'll let. EE ee eee ee / : : ° S| a . + ‘+. at ye” s * ri J - . C*¢ - : 2 Fo ”F , : “i os bs \ : . st ‘ 4 . 4 . ‘ “@ “ in , ¥ ( ~ Pa a sf | | . 7: "ou “ m; ’ ad : - *“. 7 “ ae 7" 3 oP. i . *y them off this time, but if they ever jump me again it will -be their death-signal, 1 givedue notice.”’ At that moment the top of the bank of snow caved in, tumbling down into the room, and a gust of wind following it. proved that the storm still raged. The snow was cleared up and pushed out, as much as possible, and the door was. closed. ‘‘ Well, landlord, good-night,” said the Five-Spot Sport. ‘‘I have made friends with your Chinee, and he has promised to make me up a good bunk in his domain, You, Fire-eater, look well to my horse; L trust him to you.” ‘*T’ll do that, pard, you bet!” With a wave of the hand, tben, Deuce- Trey followed the Chinee out of the room into the kitchen, leaving his two enemies to plot against him at pleasure, ‘ CHAPTER VII. CHIN SHANG’S STRANGE STORY. THE Five-Spot Sport closed the door, and he and the Chinee—as we have continued to call him—sat down by the fire. ‘‘T invented that little piece of fiction im order to get a chance to talk with you,” ex- plained the sport. ‘‘ You have awakened my interest and I want to hear your story.” ‘‘Tt was no fiction, as you can see,” speaking in low tone, and the pretending Chinee pointed across the room to a place where he had arranged a couple of beds, an extra one besides his own, ‘‘I have pre- pared a bunk for you, and meant to ask you to accept it.” ‘‘It seems we both thought of the same scheme, then,” ‘* Yes.” : _ ‘Well, your story. What have you got: to say to me?”’ ‘‘| have nothing to say to you, until you have acknowledged that you are the persom I have taken you to be.” ‘‘And you take me to be Deadwood Dick, Junior?” ‘*1 do,” ‘*Then you have seen Deadwood “1 have.” a ‘* Where and when?” — . ‘‘In Silver City, two years or so ago.”’ ‘* Yes, Well, my friend, I am Deadwood Dick, Junior,” ‘*i felt sure that I was Dick?” you too far.” I was there about that time. — not mistaken, But an I wanted’ your word for it before I trusted ‘¢ And my word is all the proof you have Cs Bs got; I may be lying to you,” ‘‘ Oh, no, you are mistaken, ty of proof, now. I have seen an exhibi- tion of your strength and courage, to say nothing about your shooting. Deadwood Dick.” ‘“T guess you have gota good case against: Ox R me, John—I'll have to call you that till you see fit to give me your real name.” ‘‘ My name is Frank Douglas.” - ‘‘ T’ll remember it,” ‘But, who was it recognized you?” ‘‘ Tt was the man who calls himself Robert: Terrell,” | ‘* You speak as if you do not to be his true name?” ¥ ‘* Well, I can’t swear that it is. Besides, you — told me some one else had recognized you TOT . 7 el - ~iir OA r é ~~ 4% I have plen- . — thie . > . ¥ - 4 - . rv ,' believe that > ay wat 4 as = = _ ~~ i * - ._™ -- P a a 7 \3 ‘ “FCI You see a man wears his real name like he wearsa b’iled shirt; and that is, when it best suits his purpose. What do you think about the | ~ gentleman?” Me -“T have given him no thought. My mint has been taken up with another.” — meen ‘“ Yes? Who is that?” tego “*Samuel Bergman.” | Paks “What isthe matter with Samuel?” ees «Nothing, apparently, the matter is 1 me ”? . ’ / , : 4 . . , By ‘ . * 4 tr L 4 ee »? ~ * “I