Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 940 — page 15: what you’re looking at

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

See ae SS Oe ee ee ee > > Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Shake-up. 15 Tilly, had’ accomplished what I coufd not do.” There was immediately a rousing cheer . “She said. ** He could not handle his prize Dan Buck raised himself to his elbow, ' with his one arm, and he is coming down “That man is not Ben Welcher, 9 tor it.’ “ And then we will down him, fer fair,” spoke one of the men. 4S heat as wax before he knows what has happened to him. It is half dark here, anyhow.” “ Yes, we have it all our own way, now,” | said Tulip. ‘“ Where is the box?” “ Right here et is, miss,”’ said) another. “Ts it whole?” “Yes; et seems ter be bound around With iron.” “It is a wonder that the fall did not Split it all to splinters. Now, I want two of the strongest of you to be ready to nab him when the best chance offers, and When you do that I will clap a gun to his head,” ‘ Kerreck, miss; we savvy.” They arranged their positions as quickly and as silently as possible and waited. In due time steps were hear, and the fellow came along down the gulch at a rapid pace, which he reduced as he came Near the bushes, looking up and measur- ing his position by the ledge above. He could see the little opening the re. Movyal of the slab of stone had left. Gauging it with his eye, he located the Spot directly under it, and pushed his way into the thickest of the bushes in order to come where the box would naturally have fallen. _ His judgment was in no wise at fault in that respect; he would have discovered the box beyond a doubt if something had Dot been there in the way of his doing it, but he was not given suflicient opportun- ity, for suddenly he was seized by strong hands, He uttered a ery of rage and alarm. “No use yer squealin’,” he was told. “We hev’ got ye.” | ‘Let me go,” the fellow begged. “ Let me go and I will make a divide with you.” ‘“ Nary a let go,” said Tulip Tilly, who had pressed a gun to his head. ¢“ We have got the whole business, and you in the bargain, so a divide is of no use. ‘Your name is Dennis.” “What are you going to do with me, then ?’ “Take you back to Reilley, of course.” “‘No, no; do not do that; give me a ‘Show... I have come out at the little end of the horn the worst way, in this game, ‘and IT have fared about as badly as TI ean.” “No matter, you are in for the full dose, and back to the camp you must go. Get hold of that box, boys, and bring it along, for I have no doubt it will tell something Worth knowing about the matter. And what it does not tell. Dan Buck will no doubt supply.” , “Dan Buck!” exclaimed the prisoner. - “Yes; the man you robbed and left dy- ing when you came here,” was the re- Sponse, Needless to quote their further talk, as they returned, since it did not avail the prisoner anything. He had to submit to the inevitable. ; On reaching the camp, they proceeded straight to the grounds of the mine, where it was found that Samuel Harding had just been called to hear what Dan Buck had to say, as the doctor had decided that ‘Buck had only a little while longer to live and had so informed him. Buck saw them as they came in. “There he is,” he said. “Have him brought right here, and I will make a con- fession,” So the prisoner was taken there, and when he looked upon the man on the ground his face seemed pale and he seemed as if about to drop to the ground. Evidently he knew what was coming, and what would be the result to follow. “ We will get him | any He is Paul Gibbs, one worst ecut-throats in more than I am. of the West.” ‘You lie!’ cried the prisoner. the whole “You are in league with all the rest to cheat me out of my rights here!” ‘No, I do not lie, as Welcher can prove. the true Ben Mr. Harding, drop your disguise and show who you really are Harding was surprised himself. He gave a start, staring hard. at Buck, and as he did so a pallor overcame: his face. “You know me,” he said. “Yes, I know you, Ben Welcher.” “Then who in the name of Heaven are you?” *“T am Doe Dalton, your former pard, who betrayed you.” “ And you dare to confess it!” “IT do; I am out of your reach. But, listen, and you will see that I long ago repented, and have been a long time trying to right the wrong against terrible odds. And now it has been brought about, though I have cut a small figure in it all.’’ He had to pause to rest. | “TI was a rascal at heart—that I admit. When Gibbs tempted me to put you out of the way, I fell easily. But I intended then to dispose of him and have the whole ‘thing to myself. But he was too much for me. Finding that I cou.d not accomplish that, I resolved that he should not gain the mine for himself. And then when I pene- trated your disguise; Ben, I made up my mind to work for you and right the wrong.” He had to pause again, and longer. “Tt was | who placed the powder under the ground near the gates. I determined that if he ever got possession, I would blow him and his men to kingdom come; and give you another show. And I did it, as you saw. I was laying to yet that half of the paper from him, and find the box ‘and put it into your possession, but I could not do that. I could not confess to you who I was, for you would not have trusted me, and I was afraid that I would only betray you, for he would have mur- dered you with as little concern as he has killed many another man in his time. He came near winning his game, but—but—” He choked, his head fell back, and he was dead. Harding turned away to hide the emo- tion his face would betray, and walked tg some distance. When he came back he had command of his voice, and, turning to the crowd, he took up the stateméht where death had cut short Dalton's part of it. “Tt is true that I am Ben Welcher,” he said. “But, for the reasons which must be plain to you all, it was impossible for me to admit my identity, as this rascal had control of the whole town. Trivet. In that guise [have sought to get possession of the papers that would give me the clear and right title to the mine. But it was impossible, for Gibbs was too many for me. It was all I could do to hold the mine against him, and I would not have been able to do that if it had not been for the backing my trusted men gave me. But, if I could not accomplish it my- self, I found some one who could.” As he said this he indicated Deadwood Dick. “ Boys,” he said, “let me introduce this gentleman to you by his right and proper name. You know him as Felix Fox, but in reality he is no other than the notorious Deadwood Dick, Junior. He, with his brave girl pard, known to you as Tulip { bd * . i and, pointing at the man, said: | ' and give this man a surprise.” I am also the man who has been known to you as Jim for Deadwood Dick and his pard. “IT will take only a small portion of the honors,’ said Dick. “It belongs rightfully to Nancy Jane. Seems to me she has played the leading role this time, and she certainly carried it to a finish after I was laid on the shelf.” “And to her I owe my life,” avowed Harding, still to call him that. ““Deadwood Dick, if I can win her regard, you shall not take her away with you when you de- part, you can count on that!” A flush mounted to the face of the young woman as she heard these words. Gibbs was given a trial, and no less than seven murders were brought home to him fairly and positively, therefore he was hanged—justly so. The box of money did contain the -original papers of the mine, and the true Welcher came into rightful possession. There was a wedding, and Dick lost his pard. He remained there until fully recovered from his wounds; then he set out on a new quest, from which came a string of strange adventures and perils. Happy Harkins was about the happiest man in town while he lived, but that was not a great while, for whisky downed him at last—after he had downed whisky for a good many years, as he jestingly put il. Over his grave they put a slab, on which was rudely carved, “HAPPY HARKINS.” while all around his mound was placed a row of empty bottles, with necks in the ground. | THH END. DON’T MISS THIS TREAT! Next Hatr-Dme Lrerary, No. 941) Loony Larry's Big Boom; The Bowling Green Detective’s Drop. BY J. C. COWDRICK. Beadle’'s Half-Dime Library. BY GEORGE ©. JENKS, ° 4856 Git Thar Owney the Unknown. 492 Git Thar Owney’s Pledge. ; 518 The on or; or, Deadhold, the Kid Detective, 581 Double-Curve Dan, the Pitcher Detective. 598 Flute, the Singer Detective; or, Owney in a New Role, 608 The Piteher Petective’s Fotl; or, Dan’s Double Plays] 616 The Ocean Detectives or. The Last Cruise ofthe Black Bear, 681 The Piteher Detective’s Toughest Tussle. 786 Larry the Thoroughbred; or, on Every Side, 779 Iron. Hand, the Charmed Detective 854 Uncle Sam’s Detective in Chicago. BY WM. G. PATTEN,. 629 Violet Vane, the Velvet Spori; or, The Jubilee ot Jacktown’ 663 Violet Vanes Victory; or, The Jasper City Clean Out, 698 Vielet and Data«y, the Ba 705 Violet Vane’s Vow; or, The Crafty Detective’s Craft. 724 Violet Vane’s Vengeance; or, The Wi t. 780 Violet Vane’s Ve 3 or, The Game at Coffin City. TAL Violet Vane, the Yeottlogaist Vidoeg; or, <a vs. Sport. 750 Ejeet Vane, the Vanquished. or, The Life te, ses violet Vanes Vision; or, The Fiery Hand of Fate, Double Face of Bed Rock, 519 Captain Myster ve in One. 81D Mare the Sport from Denver. 687 Old Bombshell, the Ranger Detective. €04 Iron Fern, the Man of Fire; or, Among the Vultures. 619 The Bo mp pours or, The Doubie Grip W itnese $41 Dinmal Paves Dandy Pard; or, The Clue to Capt. Claw G51 und Boy F rank, the Young Amateur Detective . 682 Wild Vulean, the Lone-Range Rider, - 714 Old Misery the Man from Missouri. 774 Clear-Grit Cal, the Never-Say-Die Detective. , 789 Sam Sheridan, the Service 8S 806 Cowboy Steve the Ranch Mascot. 820 Nobby Nat, the Tenderfoot Detective. 886 8 ‘per Stoke's uble Deal. Se Spotter Robin New rk. Spotter Bob’s Bewery et. A New Issue Every Tuesday. The Malf-Dime Library 1s tor sale vy all Newsdealers, five! een ta per copy, or sent by mall on receipt of six cents eacn. BEADLE AND ADAMS, Publishers, 98 William Street, Now York., — rt; or, 3 or, ( cComicboolk