Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 934 — page 8: what you’re looking at

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

‘ - — 4 Web Pius» Se on s Mu J 7 ~. 1 ne a Bn pm ll bret 250 ie 2 - Pn aS Im OES en “as ois 4 «F-4e af i. too fo *. pte Fe oh oid cae mt. — . a ote” .* * — i ' ~— >, ' “a>5% gy -~ ~~ = . ; is ll 9 as : une 7 : syoe of or. x? " we 7 me ees - ¢ ze ~ * t aad”. _——" —__~ a’ ny —_ _ a ‘T forgot for the time being! y <4 ‘ mn i PS ae .e ins a Tr ~~. ——_——_ The girl’s face blanched. “Then it is as I have feared?” she asked. “Yes; as you surmised, my pard.” “That he is dead?” and she dropped her head, and for some moments was si- lent, as if struggling with deep emotion. “Well, I have been so long prepared for it,’ she said, presently, lifting her eyes, “that it is less of a shock. I can stand all the rest you have to tell me, now. But. first of all, one question. Was he murdered ?” “Yes, he was, undoubtedly.” “ As I feared—as I suspected.” “T think you can bear it all, and I think. it best to tell you everything, so that we can work together.” . “Yes, yes, we must do that; nothing back.” : “Well, I will. But nerve -yourself, so that you can endure it, for otherwise it may overcome you.” “T cannot understand what you mean; you have said he was murdered; what worse Zan there be than that? But, say, do you know who killed him?’ **T suspect.” * Whom?” ** Brandson.” “As I thought. Ah! now that I know, I live for vengeance, and for that only.” “But, remember, he is innocent until we can prove him guilty, Miss James.” “My own heart tells me that he is guilty. But the story; let me hear all -hat you have learned.” So Diek proceeded and told the whole matter, bringing it out as delicately as possible, but even that could not rob it of any of its horror. Before he had done the girl was pac- ing the floor before him, wringing her hands, her face a picture of pitiful an- guish; But, no sooner had he ceased speaking, than she lifted her hands and keep _ cried out: ‘“ High Heavens, hear me! I vow that this crime shall be avenged, and that this wretch shall die by my hands! Poor— poor Dory!’ She sank down upon a chair, utterly overcome. “T have already registered a similar vow,” said Dick. ‘“ We will work upon the case together, and we will bring him to the fate he deserves.” : “No, no; it must be I, and I alone, to deal with him, after he has been dis covered! Say that you will turn him over to me, or we must break our bargain here and now, and I will go on alone!” “T agree. Doing that, I will be do- ing, probably, just what he would have me do.” | “Yes, yes; be sure of that?’ “And then this fortune is to be found, if it has not already been discovered.” “Poor Dory! It is plain that he was keeping his vqw that he would win riches; but how much better for us both if he had never undertaken the mission! And yet. who ean tell—” Can tell what?’ “He might have been murdered just the same.” ’ “And perhaps you as well. Such a villain would stop at nothing, that is cer- tain.” “T believe you. Well, T suppose T must ee ae Se keep my word with Maud, and tell her of this terrible discovery.” “Great Scott! “You know T pledged her my word that T would tell her whatever I happened to learn?” / “T honed to keen it entirely still. in or- der to work secretly. To fell her may UD- set the game for us at this important mo- ment.” That is something that “T am not bound to give her any of the particulars.” “That is what I was going to advise. You ean tell her the main fact; that is all that you need to do. That will be keeping your word with her.” “Yes; that must suffice. I will inform her that Dory is dead, and that our search is at an end. But, she may not believe me, and instead, may think I am trying to deceive her.” ‘Well, she must think what she will.” “T see no other way out of it. And now, what is going to be done? How can we get on the track of the wretch and run him to earth?” Thereupon Deadwood Dick gave her his views, and explained a plan that had come to his mind as the first step to be taken, and she approved of it. At that moment Dick noticed the woman give a great start, and instantly she whip- ped a revolver from the inside of her coat. He sprang and caught her arm. “What's up?’ he demanded, and fol- lowed her gaze, looking out between the slats of the closed shutters. ‘That man!” she hoarsely gasped. “It is he—the one who just passed the bank!” “Brandson, you mean. Is that the man?” “Yes, yes; and I am glad that you checked me. To shoot him thus would be no revenge dat ali.” “And would only get you into serious frouble, from which even I might not be able to extricate you. No, no; you must do nothing so mad as that. But, you are positive?” “Heavens! Do you suppose that I can be mistaken?’ ¢ ‘And he is in no disguise?’ ‘‘He used to wear a beard, but now he has none; that is all the difference.” “Well, L will form his acquaintance, and see what I ean learn, on the sly. He ean have no reason to suspect me. We must know what has brought him here.” “And I must take good care that he does not recognize me. But he certainly will do that, and Maud, too, if he happens to meet her@ I am afraid he will take alarm.” “We must take care that she does not spoil the game for us. Suppose you see if she is in her room, and ask if you and I may see her there for a chat. Tell her you have discovered something.” CHAPTER XI. COMPLICATIONS. The young woman nodded assent, and hurried out. Dick took the chair she had just vacated and watched the man pointed out. The fellow entered the Odeon, farther down the street, and did not reappear be- fore the return of Nobby Nancy, bringing with her Star Sterling. “You want to see me, sir,’ the latter asked. 3 “Vos, Please take a seat.” “What is your business with me?’ ‘‘Has Miss James told you nothing?’ “She said you have news for me.” “Yes, I have. Sit down, and let us talk seriously about a_ serious matter. There is reason why you two ladies should work together now.” “Never! We are against each other, first and last!” “You mean that you were. Sit down and hear me out, and you will see that I am right.”’ “Then you have learned— and she be- came pale. . “Nobby. tell her, as you agreed. “Wo have learned positively that Dory Barefield is dead,” explained Nobby Nan- | ey, sorrowfully. a Leg ‘ / : — TE Ns . / , bid hits SP eT Sy) | r, Sta heey, . a py o. a . ‘ : . , . + . , ae rs ; ’ ' ‘ 7 . ot . = : ‘ 2 +. . \ AZ * ¥ dha 4 AK + . 4 - p . 3 ’ "y ¥:. re y2 S > 8 Lei, Ap a ‘ L (é 0 } « P ’ : ; , .* be * > 7 Deadwood Dick, Jr., at Flush Flats. ee “Dead? Where, when, must tell me everything if you expect.me to believe you. How can I be sure that this is not a trick of yours?” “Tt is the truth,’ interposed Dick. “TI am in Miss James’ employ, and have dis- covered the awful truth, in part. He was murdered, and we suspect that Brandson did the deed.” ‘* Brandson? that!” ‘And we have found that Brandson is right here in the camp.” “Tiere? Then my revenge shall be had! I will wateh for him, and will slay him for his crime!’ ‘You must go slow about that,” pro- tested Dick. ‘“‘We have got to prove that he is guilty, first; then we can bring the crime home to him, all working together.” ‘““No; I must deal with him myself! IL must be the avenger!” ‘You shall not,’’ said Dick, sternly. “I will not allow it.” Oh, curse him, if he did “ How will you hinder, let me ask you, | 999 sir : “By placing you’ under arrest, if neces- sary, which I have authority to do.” “And what do you want me to do, . then ?” ‘Let me tell you, and then you can de- eide. In the first place, what if Brandson should see you? Would he not recognize you?” ‘TIT suppose he would.”’ “And would immediately suspect trou- ble.” | “With good reason, too! I would kill him, had I the chance.”’ “T hope you will listen to reason, and not stand in your own light. He must not see you.” ‘“ How can it be prevented?” ‘‘T mean, he must not see you to know you. You can plead a cold, and not sing at the Odeon, and we three must work against him to prove his guilt beyond ques- tion.” “ And what then?’ “Then will come your swect revenge, if you loved the murdered man as well as you claim.” | “And what of her?’ with a jerk of the hand toward Nobby Nance. “Well, what eof her?’ asked Dick. ‘There is no longer anything for you to fight over; you can join forces and work against the man who has injured both of you alike.” Dick had a delicate game to play, and doubted whether he would be able to play it successfully, with two such. unruly ecards in his hand, The two young women looked at each other fiercely. “T have not heard all,’ reminded Maud. “You have not told me how you came to know what you do.” | ‘Nor shall you know,” cried Nobby Naney. “It was a mistake to think that you and I couid agree to work together, even with Dory dead. We are foes to the last!" | ae Le | “T do not believe that he is dead!” “ And I care not whether you do or not. I have told you the mournful fact, as L agreed to do. Had I not agreed you never would have known it from my lips, rest assured of that.” “Ladies, this will not do,” Deadwood Dick protested. “I give you my word, Miss Weille, that Theodore Barefield is dead—that he was cruelly murdered, and I ask you to aid me in putting the crime where it belongs.” | “How ean I aid?” “By doing nothing to awaken suspicion in the mind of this fellow Brandson, until I have had time to. prove whether he is «ies Ity or not.” aes ir “You said that he did the deed.” \ | . => V , q ~ Cc how? You - . ~ ~~ ‘ - ° a , ‘ s . e mtd . cian ain Seinen anneal 7 ee eee ~ ~ < a - ? . ~ » « , ; ; a, a » . “4 od * - ty Sra ele : “ct < “4% at or —— os - 5s & at. hp. ; _ . > =I “Sa i hei ae eS . ca : ~ a P - 4 ~ “, <Se “ . > - “ = e as ~~ s : oh ‘T » Fo » o « ‘ ' yn nn le -- lle To ‘ ‘ . —_ . ~~® 22 ee ee a TOY eg a a tN oe a . aw ‘ - “ er eae & pt owt Ort ee . 9 - »* - ~ — — ~ > <5 Xx —_ a ee Se ——— ¥ - ‘2 "