Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 934 — page 13: what you’re looking at

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

. re oe rd \, d o, aT oe ee [ 7 io S > il ~~ A ae + oO ; a sig = - ay: {= tm en * - +a « o - *1 / - age Oa Tee eS pat ee ee ee So Once ee Meh <> ~~ >» 7 s 4 ae at x » —~) + a ~ ¢ > - > = vs Ye 6 _— , fight the thing to a clean knockdown.”’ **T understand, sir.” “Is he to be trusted?” asked the girl sport of Dick, in a whisper. “Yes, or Rashton would not trust him, and this iv really his matter, you have to admit.”’ “It was, before he sent for us.” “And for the reason that he did send for us we are bound to heed whatever he has to say.” “ Save one thing. ‘And what is that?’ “Tl am determined that Eugene Brand- son shall never leave that hole alive, but that he shall meet the same fate to which he consigned my lover.” “What is that?’ asked the bank presi- dent. She had spoken a little louder. ‘*I say that he deserves the same fate to which he consigned my lover,” the girl sport repeated. “Yes, you are right; but we are human, I hope.” , “An hour or two will be sufficient,” said Rashton. “It will be an age of hell for him, and we shall find him ready to confess when we come to release him. Then the law will deal with him.” “That will be the right plan,” agreed Deadwood Dick. “Well, at least grant me the one favor I asked,” urged the girl. * And what is that?’ “To be the first one to go down and face him.’”’ “Yes; we will grant you that, as already promised,” the president assured. With that understanding they separated, the night rolled silently on, and the mor- row dawned in due course, the camp awaking to the activities of another day. *? CHAPTER XVIII. CAUGHT IN A ‘TRAP. Deadwood Dick was astir early. ’ So was Nobby Nancy, who joined Dick on the piazza. While they were there in conversation, who should come along but Stuttering Sam- son. There was a protuberance upon his fore- head, and all the surrounding surface was black and blue and yellow-tinged, the re- sult of the terrible blow Dick had given him the day before. “ G—g—2g—g—g00d-m—m—mornin’,” stutterer stuttered, ‘“ Good-morning,” greeted Dick. “I see T did not succeed in effeeting a cure in your case, my friend,” “‘Y—y—y—yes you d—d—d—diad, t—t— too,”’ was the rejoinder, “ But not your speech.” “You k—k—k—k—cured, all the s—s—s— s—same; you k—k—k—cured me of the n— n—n—n—notion that I k—k—k—eould ]~— J—1—l—lick you.” ; “ Well, Iam glad I was able to do even that much for you. But, how about the man who sent you to perform the opera- tion on me? Did he whip you again, when you reported ?’”’ “ Th—th—th—th—that is what b—b—b— brings me here th—th—th—th—this m—m— m™m—n—mornin’.”’ “ Well, as life is short and time is pte cious, I will be just as well pleased if you will sing what you have got to say,” said Dick. “ All right, my laddy, I can do that, you know; ri—tiddy, ri—taddy, ri—tay!” “Well, sing your say, then.” “The boss, he says, the boss, says he, the . you can’t lick him, if you have licked me; he calls you a coward, and says you don’t dare to come and meet him just up there beyond the shafts, just out, of town; and \ Deadwood Dick, Jr., at Flush Flats. Dick and the girl sport both had to laugh, The fellow sang his message to a well- set tune, and had evidently prepared it to rhyme. “| find that you are several other things besides a stutterer,’”’ remarked Dick. ‘You are something of a poet on a very: small scale. But, what does that fellow take me for?’ “A k—k—k—k—coward, b’g—g—g—g— gosh!” ‘Please stick to your singing. You make me hervous When you talk, I am willing to let him think what he pleases, and you may go back and tell him so.” “Then you won't fight?’ “Not unless I have to. ing fight this morning.” “Well, he says you'll have to, so you might as well get ready for it when he comes this way; ri—diddle—daddy, day!” ‘ He will find me ready, if it is his inten- tion to come. But, can I do anything far- ther for you in that same line this morn- ing? I like to give full satisfaction where I undertake—’’ “Tm p—p—p—p—perfectly s—s—s—s— s—satisfied, th—th—th—thank you; n—no m—ni—more f—f—f—f—for me.”’ And with that Stuttering Samson went off, leaving Dick and his pard to enjoy a good laugh at his expense, in spite of the fact that they rather pitied the man on ae- count of his affliction. They continued their talk. Not a great while had elapsed when Sanford Mainard came along. He did not look up as he approached, nor even as he passed, but in passing. he Snarled out: “If you are not a coward, follow me!” “Do you mean that for me?” demanded Dick. | “Yes; I mean it for you.” “Well, it is not necessary to follow you to prove that,” Dick retorted, leap- ing over the railing and alighting upon the ground, “TI ean eonvinee you right here.” “No, not here, sir; follow me, and I will convince you that you have made a foe of the wrong man. I cannot take the knockdown you gaye me and not return it with interest.” ees do you want to go to settle “Over there beyond the shafts of the Dauphin Mine, by the shanties which I presume you have noticed.” “ And if I refuse to go?” “Tll_brand you a coward!” “ Barking dogs do little harm, but, for the sake of stopping your barking at my heels, and at the same time of convinc- ing you of the error under which you are laboring, I will go with you.” Mainard had not stopped, which fact, perhaps, more than anything else, had edged Dick on. Dick waved his hand to Nobby Nancy, and strode after the fellow. Mainard kept straight ahead, at a rapid pace, and ere long had arrived at the buildings of the mine, around which he turned at a sharp angle, and headed in the direction of some shanties on the slope of the gulch. He appeared to increase his gait, as Dick thought, as if with the intention of winding him before reaching the seene of the fight,.but he had another purpose in view, and one of which Dick did not think, having no good reason to suspect anything of the kind. | The man passed between two of the shanties, and, motioning Dick to come on, disappeared behind a third. Dick hastened on after him—resolved to punish the man all the more for lead- ing him this long way for nothing. I am not seek- Just when he passed between the two Shanties, however, half a dozen toughs leaped upon him, from somewhere un- seen, so quickly that he had no chance for defense. Two had seized each arm, and all act- ing together, they ran him into the third one of the shanties. There stood Mainard, his arms folded, Smiling at him. He evidently had en- tered by the rear, as soon as he had disappeared around the corner of the rude building. . “Well, here you are,” he observed, tauntingly, “and I will trouble you for that paper you have in your pocket.” “What paper?’ “The map that you have been puzzling your brain about.”’ That the man knew what he was talk- ing about was evident, and Dick could not but wonder how he had come by the knowledge. ' Then he recalled the note which had been received by Brandson, and thought at once of Maud Weille. He also recalled that her room in the hotel was next t@ his: This solved the problem. CHAPTER XIX, NANOY JANE’S NERVE. Mainard did not stand to parley, but, advancing, thrust his hand into Dick’s pocket, As it happened, Dick had all his other letters and papers in the inner pocket of his vest. The only thing in the inside pocket of his coat was the map, so the man had no trouble in bringing to light the object of his search, and he smiled as it was brought out. “ Kasy done,” he said. “Yes, quite so,” answered Dick. that all you want of me?” “That is all. You were a fool to think that I would call you away up here for the purpose of fighting you.” “If you will bid these gentlemen re- lease me, I will prove to your satisfaction that I have not come here in yain. The wisest of men will do foolish thimgs in the course of a lifetime.” ‘No, I hold no particular grudge against you, Mr. Peters, and what is the use of my whipping you for nothing?” ‘How about that lump on your fore- head?” ef ait “This trick is satisfaction enough for that, and we will call it square.” “Well, have me released, then, since you have gained your object” “You will be released only when I have found this fortune.” “Then you mean to keep me prisoner?” “That is my intention, sir.” Dick’s captors, having somewhat slack- ened their hold upon him, he gave a sud- den leap forward, and would have struck Mainard to the floor with a single biow, but the hands tightened their hold upon him in time, and he was prevented. “ You find you cannot do it,” the rascal taunted hin. “You will find that I can, perhaps, be- fore you get done with me. This game is not ended yet.”’ ‘Tt is well under way, however, and I seem to hold both bowers and the joker, at present; ha, ha, ha! Well, take care of him, men.” “You bet we wull,” Mainard left the room by the front way, closing the door after him. ae Ie - “ Well, what do you propose doing with . me?” Dick asked his captors, as soon as their leader was gone. | They were a fiercelooking gang, re- minding Dick of a pack of hyenas, . : “We aire goin’ to make a prisoner of f iv ) hd ° i | ie ow ro a We ~ Saas > _—. -- oki ‘a > : gt — os i aU 13 i os - ‘ * ia ‘a yy ~~. ds a = = nae Al «@ — aa i w i \ \ a \] * : » Pats ss P ‘ » ? te oo ye = * ‘> » . ~~ ee... “ely * — “ _ J . bial ‘* : a .