Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 916 — page 9: what you’re looking at

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

wa 2 etree * aa et xdon't want youatall. If . ther-Walk or somethin’ like that,” bal . a —°) 7 gis 2S coe, ~ a ed | te, ON et you are with Blondow, we are enemies.” ‘You are blunt about it.” ‘Tam as frank about things as you were a moment ago.” ‘‘ Well, so be it, If I engage with Blon- dow, I must oppose you, of course. A man cannot serve two masters.” ‘*And why should you serve either, in this case?”’ ‘« That's the point.” ‘You had better keep out of it, aud keep your hands clean of the whole affair. It will be better for you,” ‘* You think so?” **]T know it.” ‘* Does that imply a threat?” ‘* Not of necessity; take it as you please.” Just then, the mayor of the camp ap proached them. He had come in a moment before, and hai been looking around. ‘‘ Hyer ye aire, eh?” he greeted. ‘“Yes, here I am,” answered the Self- cocker Sport. “ Wull, there is the deuce to pay.” ‘What is 1t?” ; ‘*Some of ther boyees aire a-whoopin’ fer your arrest and lodgin’ in ther calaboose slong with that other cuss.” ‘That so?” ‘Straight as a stick.” “What has set them onto me again?” ‘* Ye see, that saintly old frand got one of ‘em to take a message to ye, and ther feller gave et away,” ‘+ Indeed?” Tramwell was looking from one tv the other, questioningly, ‘‘Is it anything that throws more sus picion upon this man, mayor?’ he made in- quiry. ‘ Et might, ef ye looked at et in that light.” ‘* And don’t you, then?” “No.” ‘“ Why not?” ‘* Because, | consider that other feller a rank old fraud.” ‘And why tave you come and told me this?” asked the sport. And it was some- thing that puzzled him. “So that you could be on your guard, You have promised to do what you could to- ward findin’ out who et was killed Mainard, and I am in favor of lettin’ you have a fair chance.” : ‘* But these men you speak of are not, eh?” ‘“ They mean to lodge ye in ther coop, ef they kin do et.” ‘I'll do my little best to make it interest. ing for them, if they try it on, that’s all." ‘* So I have told ’em.” ‘* ] guess they are coming now.” ‘« So they aire, sure’s you’re born!” ‘And my advice to you is to surrender,” said Tramwell, ‘* No, thank you!” About a dozen rough-looking fellows en- tered the saloon in a body, each man of them with a gun in his hand, and they were look- ing searchingly around. ‘‘ Hev ye seen him?” their leader called out. . “ Seen who?” asked the man at the bar. ‘“That cuss what calls himself Cock-of ‘ Thar he is!’ another cried out, He pointed to where Dick, the mayor and ‘Tramwell were sitting. _ With a grow] they all made for their pre ina body, and it looked rather dubious for the sport. He rose up to greet their coming, and was as cool as ice. ‘* You want me?” he asked quietly. ‘Yas, we wants you!” ‘* What for do you want me?” ‘* We ar’ goin’ ter lock ye up.” “* Are you sure about that?” ‘We mean ter take ye, or make cold meat of ye) one or t’other,” going in Deadwood Dick, Jr.'s, - a % = >) ae =<" =.) : Pye ay pe & 4 4 * jj ” . » > 7 tA iW > — Fs : ous nye 3 \ - ; 1 ve sf hare wy PO : aie P - ‘ Sot « " Lente ra kG oe a Pe eT yids Gx: ae Ui ll i aa Double-Decker. ls ——— oo ‘' Well, that is not very pleasant to think about, truly, but, before you proceed to business, what is all this about?” “You aire a darn lyin’ sneak, that’s what et’s about ” ‘** Mistaken, gentlemen ” ‘We have proof of et?’ ‘*An’ what is your proof?” “Didn't that cuss in ther calaboose try ter git Jack byer to fetch a message to ye?” ‘What of that? What was the mes- sage?’ ‘‘ Why, he said as long as ye were both suspected, he thought it would be better fer you to give up. an’ join him in ther jail, when there might beashow to escape by workin’ together ’ “And you have taken stock in that?” ‘“ Durn et! ain't et proof enough?” ’ ‘Ask your mayor.” | ‘“We don’t ask nobody; we have come | hyer on business.” ) ‘‘T think ye had better go slow, boys, spoke up the mayor, ‘I bave given this man his Jiberty—” ‘An’ you can’t run ther hull town, even if you ar’ mayor of et!) We have ther proof, now, that this man is guilty, an’ we mean ter have hin!’ ‘‘[ think the boys are right, mayor,” said Tramwell Dick saw. through it all, or thought he did. But he looked at it in two ways, bardly knowing which was the right explanation. Perhaps it was a mixture of both. Jacob Mundy and Tramwell might be working to gether against him, But, he was inclined to his first'thought; that Mundy had had to do with the shadow-coffin and the murder that followed. If that were so, then it was possible that Mundy feared him, and wanted to ‘make sure of ‘putting him where he could not work out the truth. Perhaps a confederate was the one who had fired at Dick. ‘Ef they aire, thar is a better way than this,” growled Pitts. ; ‘‘ What is et?” demanded the leader. ‘* Leave ther man free, and let’s see what he will do toward findin’ out ther murderer of Mainard.” ‘* An’ have him put ther crime onto some feller what never done et a tall!” cried the leader. ‘‘ Not any, thank ye; we have got outo him, and he has got ter come wi’ us.” ‘What have you got onto?” asked Dick. ‘“Onto you, that’s what. Didn’t yer pard ner give Jack a fiver to find you an’ give ye that message?” y ) ‘*And would he not be a fool to do that if he and | were really partners in any kind of crooked business? With me free, there would be a better chance for his es- CONGO" ‘** Now et’s no use your talkin’, you has got ter come with us,” **T have, ch?” You bet!” ‘‘ Well, begin to take me, will you? You will find that I am not only a self-cocker, nti double back-action knocker-out as well!” The Self-cocker Sport stepped back a pace and put up his fists. The leader of the dozen advanced upon him with revolver aimed at his head, and the others stood ready. Tramwell got out of the way with haste, but the mayor stood his ground and tried to persuade the fellows to desist, but that was now useless. They were bent on making the sport their prisoner, They would probably have some sport doing it. CHAPTER XI. SELF-COCKER’S GRIT. THe ringleader was one Bullion Bull- whack, so called, ar was about as truly bad a man as the ' in this thing.” town of Roaring River could scare up at short notice. It was his boast that he could whip any two men in the gulch, in a fair fight, and the general impression was that he could do it, too. If Deadwood Dick had known this, he might have thought the fellow was looking for fight just for the sake of a fight, and for the satisfaction of ‘‘ doing up” such a sport as himself. This, however, was not the case; the man’s mission was as he declared. ‘‘Begin ter take ye?” Mr. Bullwhack bel- lowed. ‘‘ Why, you fresh young beauty, | have got ye a'ready.” **Oh! have you?” Bullion made a reach with his left hand, holding his revolver with his right ready for business. But his reach was not quite successful. In fact, it was an utter failure, so far as lay- ing hold upon the Self-cocker Sport was con- cerned. Dick brushed the arm aside, seized the wrist of the hand that’ held the revolver, and, to the great surprise of everybody, the great Bullwhack began to howl and dance. Deadwood Dick’s strength of arm was prodigious. Although it was his left band, he had given the fellow’ s wrist such a turn that be was almost crazed with pain for a mo- ment, and his revolver dropped to the floor. The others looked on with amazement. ‘‘ Hnve you got. me?” demanded the Self- cocker. * Let go!” was the howl, love 0’ goodness; let wp!” ‘*TIave you thought better about running me in?” demanded Dick. ‘‘ Will you give that up?” | ‘Go fer him, boys!” yelled Bullion. ‘‘ Shoot ther cuss like ye would a,dog!” “And bang for it,” cried Dick. ' ‘‘Don’t a man of ye dare to shoot,” cried the mayor. ‘* Bullion begun et; let him fin- ish et.”’ ' ‘* But, he has a good case against the man,” declared Tramwell. ** Course | bave!’ ‘And I have got a good grip on you,” countered Dick, grimly. ** Let up!” ‘Nix }? ‘* At him, boys!” ‘‘ Yes, at him, fellers,” echoed he called Jack, They moved forward all together, evi- dently bent upon business, now, spite of what they had seen of the prowess of their * Back!” cried Dick. He was having a struggle with Bullion, now. ‘* No, at him!” Bullwhack ordered. ‘‘ We have got him now, sure!” He thought he had him himself, but he immediately saw his mistake, in a great manner, The Self-cocker Sport had merely let go his hold in order to take s better, and-he swung the fellow clear off his feet. nce, twice, he swung him, and the next time he caught the others of the gang with Bullion’s legs and heels and sent them top- pling over like so many ninepins, depositing Mr. Bullwhack among them. “You had better run,” suggested may or. What for?” ‘Let up! Fer the ' ‘* Run? ‘* You life ain’t safc.” ‘Safe here as anywhere, I guess. ‘They will shoot ter kill, now.” ” ‘*You had better get out of range, then. No use your taking any risks, where you have nothing at stake.” | ‘* What d’ye take me fer?” /* A pretty good man.” ‘‘ Well, I’m good enough to stand by ye \ Y, 7 | ; * , 7 * * ‘ “5 ‘ s 7 . 4 7 - i é 7, . ; 1 rs ; * eee. 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