Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 940 — page 11: what you’re looking at

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

Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Shake- “And if he had suspected you as Trivet, or that Trivet was Welcher?”’ “He could have defied him, you see. And, if pressed, Trivet could disappear, and that would leave me still in possession, and all I would have:to do would be to hold the mine against all comers until the time limit was up.” at Then, really, you had two chances for j A beg “You could claim it that way, or, if Trivet got the papers, he could claim it aud oust you, and still it would be you yourself!’’ “Just so. And in the mean time I was rolling up wealth out of it, and needed only a little more proof to make me se- cure in my possession. That is the work I expect of you.” CHAPTER XIII. WHICH MAN LIED? Deadwood Dick was much interested. It Was as strange a story as be had listened to in many a day. And, even as he took it all in, an@ weighed the evidence, there was still room for doubt. Was this man really the Weleher who rightfully owned the Blue Wasp? Was’ he really Jim Trivet? It did not seem possible that he could have assumed a | double personage and carried it on so long. He expressed nothing of these thoughts however, but he did make up his mind to learn more about Trivet. What if he bad disappeared? only the bare word of Harding that he and Trivet had been one and the same, and that now he was the real Welcher to whom the mine belonged. There was room for doubt, certainly. ‘Well, I wiil undertake the work,” de- cided Dick, after thinking a moment. “In doing it 1 may need your help in your guise as Trivet.”’ “In which case you shall have it, most assuredly, to any extent.” So readily and so heartily spoken that it removed some of the doubts which had been gathering in the wary detective’s | mind. “1 would like to ask a few questions, sir, for information on special points.” * Ask them, and they shall be acswered.” * Do you really not know where Dalton is?” ‘ ‘TI do not, as Ihave told you. Where he is is a mystery. Iam of the opinion that he is alive, however.” | “Why do you so think?” “Well, chiefly because Gibbs thinks he be ee —_ There was is. | ‘To | look anything like the man?” “Well, yes, there is a resemblance.” “But could you make the mistake of taking me for him?” “ Hardly.” | “Do you think that Gibbs really be- lieved me to be the man.” *“T should say there is no doubt about that.” “Do you think that he is now aware that he made such a mistake?” | “ That is not easy to determine. He is a close fellow, arid you never know what hx thinks or what he is going to do until he acts,” ‘And you think that he still holds one- half of that map?’ “That is pretty certain, it seems to me.” “And he still thinks that Dalton holds the other half yet, you infer?” : “Yes; that is my inference.” * Well, if Dalton is alive, what would he naturally desire to do?’ ~- “One of two things. He would either r v mi . ‘ , 7 , ? , ‘ vee ‘s' a z 3 Z _ 4 > Ae < * ” . at 2 x [on ~ = 2. hes +. SZ “a2 ee ows 2 ~ —_ -— _ geek partnership with Gibbs again, or | —_—-— — —— would try to beat Gibbs by getting the balf of the paper that is in his possession.” ‘And which the more likely?” “The latter.” “So I think, too,” avowed Dick. “And, that being the case, is it not possible that he is already here in this camp, working to that end?” ‘Tt is not impossible, I should say.” “You speak as if you consider it not very probable, however.” : “T would know him, I believe, if he were here, and so would Gibbs, at sight. I think it is improbable, therefore, that he is in Reilley.” “And yet look at your own case, how you have led a double life here and have }. fooled them all! What about that fellow, Hank Riggle? Do you think that he cap possibly be Dalton?” ‘No, not at all. That is impossible.”’ “Well, what more have you to tell me which may be of use to me?” “That is about all, except to advise with you in regard to what should be done first of all. Shall we give our attention to hold- ing the mine only, or try to find the box of money?” ‘Both, I should say, but the former is the more important now, of course. Keep possession at all hazards.” “So I think,*too, and I shall bend all my energies to hold my grip on the mine If I can find the paper besides, well and good, but let us take no risk of the former for the sake of the latter.” “That is horse sense, undoubtedly.” “That was my idea. But what if that paper turns up in Welcher’s possession and he claims the mine?’ “We will let him prove it, that is all. If he is the false claimant we think him to be he will stumble and spill himself be- fore he gets through with it, I don't doubt seo What do you say to paying Gibbs a visit ?” “ What for?” “T will demand the paper.” “He will only laugh you a defiance in return.” “Then I will call him Gibbs and we will see how he wili take that.” “Ha! That is an idea I had not thought of. We will see how he will take it, as you say.” The manager threw away his finished cigar and rose to his feet, Dick following his example, and the manager led the way ‘out and in the direction of the place where the, prisoner was held. ‘They entered the tunnel together. ,— The doctor had been there, and had made the wounded arm as comfortable as possible. “ Well, how do you feel?’ asked Felix Fox. | ‘Curse your impudence for asking!” was the ugty retort. “T have come to see you on a matter of business of importance.” “You will have business of importance to attend to before this day is done, see if you don’t, you interloper!” “T want the half of a certain map you hold.” “Ha! you would rob me? After T told you my story you hare joined hands with these robbers, and now mean to add injury to injury anew!” “No, I am seeking rather to do justice to those whom you have wronged, Paul Gibbs,” * What’s that you call me? My name is Ben Welcher.” “I have good reason to think otherwise. You are Paul Gibbs, who murdered Ben Welcher, and now wear his name. You need not deny it, for we’ve got a pretty clear line of evidence against you.” | ‘But, by Judas! I do deny it! It’s ab- « . . ee ee ee _ CLUS On O00 OO eee nn nee = Up. ll surd! Somebody has been telling you ap infernal lie!” “Then you contend that you are the real and true Weicher?” ‘“‘I swear that I am!” “Tell me, then, how you escaped from that deep, dark gorge into which you were hurled by your partner and his friend?’ ‘“T was never thrown over any ledge into the gorge. I was robbed only, and the robbers skipped out and left me. But | got here on the ground first, and I have held my own till now.” ‘‘Can you prove that you are Welcher?”’ “If you can prove that you are not Dal- ton, curse you!” “TIT can do that very readily.” “How? Tell me that.” “ By proving who I really am, where I came from, and what brought me here.” “Bah! The fact that you are after my paper is proof against you being anybody else than Dalton!” The manager started to say something, but Dick checked him, and they left the tunnel, ordering the watchman to guard the prisoner well. “What do you think?” asked Harding. . “Hard to tell what to think. He cin almost make one believe that he is telling the truth.” “ He is a good one, no mistake. But he lies—lies like sin! I wish we had the real Dalton here and could bring them face to face and let them have it out while we listened.” “That would be a capital idea; but you have heard of that excellent way to cook a rabbit?” ‘*I presume so. and so forth.” “That is it. (We should first have to catch Mr. Dalton, and that will be the most difficult part of it all, or I miss my guess. But, hello! what is the excitement out there? Something is going on.” CHAPTER XIV. DPSPERATE DBALING. Dick pointed to the gates as he spoke. The men within the stockade were run- ning to the fence to look out. “What is going on?” called out Hard- ing. ‘*‘ What is the matter outside there. boys?” ‘Hank Riggle is making a charge up here. He is coming with all the force’ that was left in the camp, and will be here in half a minute. How about open- ing on ’em?” “No; reserve your fire!” direcfed Dead- wood Dick. ‘Let me have a talk with them first to see just what is in the wind.’” He and the manager ran forward. Dick looked around as he ran, as if in search of some one. “Has any one seen that girl sport who came here with us?’ he asked. ‘“ What has become of her?” “She went out,” one man answered: “she follered Dan Buck.” “Has Dan gone out?’ cried the man- ager. ‘* What does that mean?” “Give it up. He went sort of on the sly and the gal sport sort of slyed et after him—weazel after the badger you see.” The manager looked to Dick for expla- nation. “ What do you make of this?” he ask&d. in a low tone. ‘Who was that girl, as you seem to have an interest in her. Do you know her?” “She was my pard of last night,’ ex-! plained Dick, answering the last ques tion first. “Something is up, and she has had a reason for following Buck you can depend on that. She don’t make= mistakes in such cases.” “ Do you think he has turned ‘Hard to tell,” First catch your rabbit, traitor 7) 3