Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 957 — page 13: what you’re looking at

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

™~ | i el : . 5 a Re ee ae a —~» = 2... - A tt i ~ —s _— » - —<— a a one eg, ee ae Te ‘ - gn yy ope So ns Sal mati i jii— = ? ont * yal , is eet® throat last. night, _ heavily. ¥ had been Injun Inez. She had taken it all in, remaining on the outer cireie of the crowd, and when Tony disappeared within his shanty she went off to her own domi- cile laughing. It was about that time that the discoy- ery was made that Deadwood Dick had effected his escape, and there was a shout in the camp then, as may be believed. The mayor raved, the citizens searched every- where for a clew, but all to no purpose— the prisoner was gone. The mayor and Franklin Hughes drew apart from the crowd for a quiet talk. “ Now,- what is going to be done?” the mayor asked. “Do you think it necessary to do any- thing?’ asked the pseudo-mining capital- ist, “Why not?” | ‘Do you think he will have the nerve to confe here again?” “The nerve? Did he not display his nerve well enough last night to satisfy you?” ‘He was fighting then for his life. Only a fool would venture back here again, after that experience. He is a bold fellow, but he never tackled the Flock of Forty be- fore.”’ * And we never tackled him before.” * Fools that we did not cut his miserable It would have been done, too, if we could have nailed him in the old temple.” “Well, what is going to be done?” de manded Garrat. “We have either got to scare out or fightit out. And we have got too big game in our hands now to scare off.” “We will fight it out!” with a terrific oath, “Our messenger has gone to Chi- huahua to make known our terms, and if Wwe can. hold things down for a little while Wwe may scoop the wealth we have de- manded. We must see it through. We Will double our guard at every point, widen. our circle, and if Deadwood Dick dares to poke his nose in here again it will seal his doom! As for a force, chat could never reach us, you know.” “My hand on it,” said Garrat, simply. “We'll fight it out to the bitter end.” CHAPTER XV. DICK’S CHIHUAHUA DODGE. Return we to Chihuahua, 3 When the suave stranger had gone from the office (inviting the reader’s attention to a preceding chapter), Mr. Bamford and Mr, Hedgeworth looked at each other for a moment before either spoke. “Well, he had it all his own way,” Hedgeworth remarked. “I never heard of such brazen. audacity’ before in my life, Mr. Bamford. .An acknowledged outlaw coming here openly and boldly, dictating his terms and ordering how they shall be earried out!” } “And we are helpless to do anything but obey his directions,” said the old man. “You are ordered to go alone, and you have only the word of an outlaw that you will not be taken prisoner and held for ransom the same as your father and my son. Or you may be robbed and killed, and the prisoners be no better off than now.” | | “No, I think they will deal fairly with me, with the hope of getting the big sum they ask for my father’s release. To de tain me would only block their prospects in that directidn.” i. _ “Yes, that appears to be reasonable. I did not look far enough to take that view of it. And you will go?” “There is nothing else I can do. will send the money with me?’ “TI have got to do it, sir.” You f ye, Deadwood Dick, that. Mexican.” en oo, “Then I will start at daylight, as_or- dered. Of course I do not hold myself re- sponsible for the money, Mr. Bamford. I will perform the mission aJl right if per- mitted to do so,” “The risk is mine, Mr. Hedgeworth. But, what is the trouble in the store? I must see.”’ Some loud words had reached their ears. Opening the door to step out, Mr. Bam- ford was met there by a clerk who looked somewhat excited, and who hastened to explain. “A mendicant, sir, who insists on see- ing you, and we were unable to put him out of the store, he is so strong. He says he has something important to say to you—” “ And so I have,” spoke up a most mis- erable-looking specimen, who came for- ward. “I bring you a word of news, Mr. Bamford, which I must tell you in private, or not at all. I am a mendicant only in appearance,” spoken in a much lower tone. “Come into the office, sir,” said Mr. Bamford. “You, Mr. Hedgeworth, remain with me.” ‘* Hedgeworth?”’ said the seeming beg- gar. sé Yes.”’ F “The man I want to see, beyond doubt. Let us go into the office, as suggested.” Mr. Bamford dismissed the clerks, tell- ing them to Say nothing and that he would take care of the “mendigo,” and the three entered the office, and the door was close@& “You have just had a visitor,” remarked the stranger. “You are not wrong,’ said Mr. Bam- ford. “He has come to you from the Flock of Forty, with terms for the release of your son, and conditions for the release of Mr. Hedgeworth.”’ ‘ The two men looked at the stranger in surprise. Were they being favored with a visit from another of the same band? And, if so; What could his object be? “ Before we deny or acknowledge any- thing, let us know just who and what you are, sur, and What your business is with us,’ spoke Mr. Bamford. “Am I not right, Mr. Hedgeworth?, We expect to keep our part of the compact with the man who has been to see us.” “You are a keen man, Mr. Bamford,” said the unknown. “If I came here as a spy from the Flock of Forty, you are givy- ing me reason for confidence in you and your intention. A card well played, sir. But my mission is of another character en- tirely. Since you have not penetrated my disguise, I have reason to believe that no one else has done so.” ‘ . So saying, the stranger removed his battered hat, unwound the dirty kerchief from around his head, took off a false beard and lo! it was Deadwood Dick, Ju- nior: i ‘Mr. Bristol!” exdaimed Mr. Bamford. “Not Deadwood Dick?’ cried Mr. Hedgeworth, excitedly. | “ At your service, gentlemen,” said Dick, in his cool manner. “We feared that you were dead,” said Mr. Bamford. “What has happened?” “T have to thank a kind Providence that I escaped with my life, sir,” said Dick, s¢ —reverently. Forthwith, then, he told the story of his recent adventures, briefly and to the point, giving full credit to others and taking but little to himself for his escape, “Too bad that my son did not ‘escape With you,” sighed Mr. Bamford. Better that he did not, perhaps,” said Dick. “He might have shared the fate of “ That is true,” said young Hedgeworth. “And my father might now be dead. had he passed the door of stone as you did. In Jr.’s, Ten-Strike. : 13 ——————— oe — ———————————————————————— fact, I do not see how you escaped with your life.” “T have told you—by a _ kind® Provi- dence,” said Dick. * And what now is to be done?” “That is what has brought me here. Tell me what arrangements have been made with the agent of the brigands.”’ “Soon told,” said Mr. Bamford, and he related the plan that had been fixed upom for the sending of the money by Hedge- worth, who was to be taken for an inter- view with his father. “That is a good layout,”’ observed Dick. thoughtfully, when he had heard all. “It ought to let me in somewhere, though L had another scheme formed in my mind that I think will work all right, if I can. get back again to Devil’s Delight unsus- pected.” “What is your plan?” asked Mr. Bam- ford. “It is hardly worth while to make it known, sir, for it may have to be changed, if not indeed abandoned altogether.’’ “ Will it not be better to take advantage of the fact of my going to see my father to lay a new scheme?” suggested Hedge- worth. back upon the other.” *T must make the fact of your going, sir, contribute to the success of the other, I think,” said Dick. “I would suggest that you allow me to be the one to pay the visit to your father, but now that their agent has seen you I could not so far de- ceive him.” “ True; nor would I permit you to take again so much risk alone, sir,’ said young Hedgeworth. “No, we will work it to- gether, or I will aid you as far as I am capable, being guided by you in every- thing. What plan of action do you sug- gest, sir?’ “I must have the details of the scheme . as arranged by this agent of the Flock of Forty,’”’ said Dick. These were given in full. “And you start to-morrow morning?” éé Yes.” é “Taking the money with you?” “ Yes, for nothing must be neglected that will awaken suspicion,” said Mr. Bamford. * Better so, if Mr. Hedgeworth is willing to take the risks,” remarked Dick. “It will insure your getting the interview with your father, Mr. Hedgeworth, and I will try to be there.” , ‘* You will be there!”’ “Tf it is possible to get there, and we together nrust free Mr. Bamford and your father.” “Impossible. impossible,” said the old man, shaking his head. ‘They will kill you, and perhaps put the prisoners to death besides. No, no; you must take a force of soldiers—”’ 7 “That is far more impossible,” Dick hastened to say, and he explained why. “No, nothing can be gained by force: Strategy is the only Means at our com- mand. Let us put our heads together, Mr. Hedgeworth, and lay a scheme that will carry us through.” And this they did, remaining in confer- ence for more than an hour, dwelling at length upon every detail, until their scheme was as nearly perfected as it was possible for them to make it. Finally Hedgeworth took his leave, returning to the hotel where he had left his friends, and Dick was shown out by a rear way and made his exit by another street. THE NOTICE ON THE TREE, On the following morning Hedgeworth appeared at daylight, mounted and ready for his journey, and left Chihuahua by the trail the outlaw had mention No one was with him, he had been seen . ey ’ ‘ Sy rf ae Se “Then, if that fail us, we can falle — — >