Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 940 — page 5: what you’re looking at

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

= a TT ag se inate «4 ee o = ae And ~~ ee ne mistakes in your knowledge. time, You would make one this time. We have made a thorough search for that woman, girl, or whatever she was, but not a sign of her could we find.” “I told you not to come back without her.”’ : “I know you did, but I didn’t take that to mean that I was to stay away for- | ever.” to my own | Deadwood Dick, Jr. Low, » Shake- yt ———EE SE ————— * The able is I don’t know where you would look for her. Her disappearance was a mystery to me, the same as it was to the others, but I think she is all safe and that she will turn up.”’ “ Why did she leave you?” “I think it was because she distrusted Welcher and his gang. She was sharper than I, ‘in that.” “ Are you or are you not the ibe Ben “ Well, it is more proof, then, that the | Welcher took you to be?’ fellow we have got is Doc Dalton. And I | “TIT am not, decidedly; never heard of am afraid it is proof, too, that they found Doce Dalton.’ the treasure box before we got onto them. | Just torture ! But now I’m stumped to know ‘how to proceed.” “Stumped? Not a stump! your man a little and make him tell what he knows. We can get the truth out of him if we go about it in the right way I don’t doubt. and the more important paper, he knows Where the woman has gone with them.” “Well, maybe you have hit it right.” “That I have, you bet! And we'll hit him right, too, when we hang him up by his big toes and build a slow fire under | him. He will then tell what he knows in | a hurry!” | “ Riggle, you are a devil, and about as merciless.” - ““Ha!l ha! As if I could give you points in any game of that kind.” In their talk together there was little va of the rough Western in what they said. “And how about the Blue Wasp?’ asked Riggle. “ You know that we must get possession right away or lose ever y>. Tia worked. just long enough for them to hold it and to make their claim secure beyond any procedure we can bring. must break their continuous possession this very week.” “Right you are, of course,” agreed Welcher, “I have been hoping that the document would show up and so put the property into our hands. We'll have to | prepare to carry out your plan. I see nO | other course. That paper we must have.” Meanwhile, Deadwood Dick had thrown ‘himself upon the floor of his prison to sleep, seeing that it was useless to try to get his hands free. He had slept he could not tell how long, when he was awakened by a knocking, as if some one was seeking admission at the door, and yet it was not loud enough for that, ‘either. Dick had to listen for some moments. after opening his eyes before he found what bad awakened him, Then he found it was a knocking under the floor, Thoroughly. awake now, Dick rolled over on the floor to the spot and thumped, as well as he could, in response. There was silence for a moment; then came the signal again, and he could no longer doubt its meaning. Again he responded, in the same num- ber of knocks, and then: | “Are you alone?’ was asked, in a low voice. - “Yes,” Dick answered, guarded tone. “Good enough! I want to have a talk with you. Wish I could help you out, but in the same af I ean’t do that till morning.”’ “ Who are you?” “Dan Buck, the fellow who saved your ~ Vife im the saloon,” - “Gjad you are on my side, Daniel, but - IT don’t see what you can do for me.” “JT can’t help you till morning, for I have no way of getting in there and you have no way of getting out; but I may be able to help that “nes of yours if you can tell me where she i, Pus “) “? = me mm a So we. } call on him, “Then, of course, you have not found that box of money.” “TIT have found nothing of the kind. His story is all romance to me.” “ Well, that being so, stranger, we must do all we can for you, and I may say you have more friends here than you’ think If they got the box of money | for, maybe.’ “ That is good news, anyhow.” “But Welcher is a terror, and is so feared that no one cares to speak openly against any of his doings or plans. But he is nearing the end of his rope, and I hope this affair will wind up his career here.”’ “Well, friend Dan, if I ean contribute to that result [ shan’t regret this little un- pleasantness,”’ “Well said, Mr. Fox! You are the true metal, that I see. But—that pard of yours; can you tell me anything about her?—how she will be likely to look, if she puts in an appearance at this camp, as I suppose, now, she will do, and as I want her to do, too, because she can help me, and I know I can be of big help to In another week it will have been | - her.” In an instant Deadwood Dick was sus- picious. Was not this the mayor himself, and the whole thing a trick? CHAPTOR VI. he THE FRIEND UNSEEN. “You are asking too much, now,” Dick PE Benak now on his guard. ‘Because you don’t know how to an- swer, or because you don’t want to trust me?! asked his unseen inquisitor. “ Well, I suppose you will hold your own view of that, no matter what I may tell you,” responded Dick. ‘‘ The fact of the business is, she may have deserted me and left me to shake for myself.” ‘A great pard, she, to do that! You don’t think that, my friend, I am sure,” was the unseen’s rebuke. _ Dick could not but feel this rebuke. “She may come,” he admitted; “you will have to be on the her, if she does chip in.” “ Welcher and all of his henchmen will be watching, you can depend on that, and if you could give me a eue that would give me the inside track—” “*T can’t; I don’t Know in what guise she will come.” “That is all I can say on that line, then. When you get free, to-morrow, as I mean you shall, will you call at the of- fice of the Blue Wasp mine” “What for?’ “Tf you get free, you will owe it, in part, to the head of that concern.” “Then I shall do myself the honor to most certainly. For whom shall I inquire when I go there, if I g0?’’ “Ask for Samuel Harding.” “All right; I will remember the name, és ‘And, by the way, if he is not in and you don’t find him right away, do not seek him too closely; just Keep. on calling ah) , ibs ti et » Md SN ais z i! ist ro St ih Are Gee Er ‘ till you find him in. See?’ “Yes, I see, but not very clearly. How- ever, I will do as you say.” “T will say that he will be looking for you, though, and so you may not have to call more than onee. I thought I would Warn you, so that you weale not weary, m ’ ’ ‘ rf : y . ‘ ‘ + , : M a ; vs ~ : BY, - wv ' 7 : y ae ‘ . oS wm SR ie ae ee wateh. You can bet on. * Te * ~ * Ps | ’- -" a = a Sl 7 = $$$ | me ee “That is all right, and much obliged to you. By the way, how the deuce did you manage to get under this building? IL thought it was built flat down in the earth, and it certainly seems to be, from the inside. “I took all that in when I was brought here.” ““T had a friend who was caged here once, and J set out to tunnel him out be- fore he was hanged, but I was just a day too late. I had made my way this far, and was going to saw through.the floor the next night, but on that day this brute of a mayor got his back up about some- thing and took poor Tom out and stretched his neck without any warning to anybody. yg “What is to hinder you from sawing through now and aiding my escape in that manner?” ; “Because I don’t want to leave the camp, just yet, and it would cost me my life to stay, after doing that. They would trace the tunnel straight to my shanty, just in the rear of this calaboose.”’ “Oh, ho! That is the lay, is it? Well, Daniel, don’t take any such risk on my ac- count. Daniel, tell me this, before you go: * Are you acquainted with the man they eall Jim Trivet?” — “You can set it down for a fact that I am, pardner. Anything you want to say to him?” “ Will you earry a word to him from me, and whisper into his ear when you get a chance that D. D. got his letter?’ “TI opine that same won't kill him with surprise, pardner!” “Then you think he suspects who I am?’ “That is it. He Knows.” “ Allright, then. Tell him I will make a meating with him as soon as it can be done safely after I get out. of this fix.’ ‘* Don't bother about that; leave that part of it to Jim. You can safely trust him to bring it about in good time. Meanwhile, don’t forget to go to the Blue Wasp. Now, my friend, good-night. I’ve work yet to de, so must be off. Make yourself as com- fortable as possible, for you are not likely to be molested before morning.”’ Dick heard some slight sounds as the man moved off through the tunnel. Just then came a heavy rap on the door. “ What’s the matter in there?’ a voice demanded. “What do you find the matter?’ re sponded Dick. ‘Who are you talkin’ to?’ “A fellow I like pretty well—myself! Can’t I have that privilege?” ‘No; you can’t, so just let up on it, that is all. Et sounded to me as if you had somebody in there.” “Maybe you have been taking a nap,” suggested Dick. “If you think everything is not right, come right in and see me. 1 would like to have a drink of water, any- how, if it wouldn’t be too much trouble.” The guardsman unlocked the door and entered. Within it was as dark as a dungeon, but when the door was opened the light of | the moon shone in, ‘The man looked around, evidently having not been quite fully satisfied that every- thing was right, and perhaps having been asleep on his post. as Dick had said. “T am growling about these cords on my wrists, for they are cutting like sin. I won't ask you to monkey with them, however, for -that might get you into trouble. If you will give me a drink of water I won't trouble. you further.” “Tt would be all my life is worth to touch your bonds, pard. I will give you the drink though,” the man said, not un- kindly. | He stepped outside again, and ane in a dipper of water. a i) “aie és iti Ais oe ath, ‘ ‘ ‘. ; *s. . 14 Py re) , ) : : 7. R . ‘ ‘ ’ yy wits yy a 6 ~~ P | | Aa @ 7 La | | Li I a | = 2 Vee . i 2 = { f