Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 971 — page 12: what you’re looking at

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

When the idlers of the camp began to roam out in that direction, the doctor had his servant carry the table out of the cabin and place a chair upon it before the cabin door. That having been done, and the doctor having taken his place on the chair, he directed Chop Wong to beat a tom-tonr, | which the Chinee proceeded to do with a vengeance, accompanying it with a series of yelps and yaups that were well calculated to draw attention. The crowd began to enlarge rapidly, the doctor told a funny story that made all his hearers roar with laughter, and in less than ten minutes nearly the whole population of the camp was congregated in front of that cabin. Having his audi- ence, the doctor 'aunched out upon a great harangue, telling them of diseases known and unknown, and guaranteeing to cure them all on the “ no cure no pay ”’ plan. When he had done, at the end of an hour or so, he invited all to remain who desired to see him for advice. He had kept the crowd together by telling funny anecdotes every now and then as he went along. Hot-head Smith was one of the crowd, and he walked away when the harangue ended. Mayor Eastwood overtook him on his way to the Jolly Polly. “T thought you were going to call on the doctor, Smith?’ he reminded. “Yas, so I was, but I don't have to, now,” was the answer. | “ How is that?” “Why, I’m satisfied et is all right. _ Nobody could play a game like them two ) tellers is doin’, ef they wasn’t jest what \ they p’tend ter be.” “That is my own belief exactly, Hot- head. I have been watching them, after what you said, but they are just what they seem, nothing more nor less. Pret- ty good talker, but a mighty quack, you bet.” “And thar’s lots ov fools hyer will take his stuff.” “ Well, it won’t kill, it is likely, and if it does no good there is nothing. to pay.” “JT noticed that Job Turner wur takin’ et all in, and I don’t doubt he’ll stay be- hind fer his lame back. Mebby I would be a fool, too, ef anything ailed me. i dunno.” “A sick man will go any length for relief. Here is another thing, about what you suggested this afternoon.” “What wur that, mayor?’ “ About making it known that Duplex John was probably not the murderer after all, and having him come back Bor a here, if he could be found—” yan Yes, yes, I remember I said that.” ee itt Well, I was going to say—better let it | i" rest s it is. Maybe the guilty one will trap himself by saying something, and _ it is not likely that any harm will come to Duplex John and his pard, after the j dit start they got.” “ Jest as you say, mayor.” Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Oath. of his friend, found himself the last in the line. One by one they were admitted, the doctor questioned them, gave them some medicine with directions how to take it and told them to report early in the afternoon on the following day. At last came Job’s turn, and he had been awaiting it with all the patience for which his name was synonymous, and as he entered the Chinee announced: “Him lastee man; allee samee no more.” “Then you may close the door and sit down, Chop Wong,” said the doctor. And then to his patient: “Well, sir, and what is the matter with you?” “Oh! my back,” said Turner, support- ing himself with his hands. “It is al- most cutting me in two.” “Trouble with your back, eh? Give me a brief history of your case, and let me see how long it has been troubling you and how you have been handled, and maybe I can help you.” The man complied, with all the min- uteness a chronic sufferer is wont to enter into, and concluded: “Tt wasn’t so bad lately, but to-day I ‘tended to the layin’ out of my friend, him that was murdered, as you have heard tell, and I must have hurt it in liftin’ him about, for it has been killin’ me ever since.” The doctor seemed to take renewed in- terest in this particular case. “Yes, that must be it,” he agreed. “So the murdered man was a friend of yours, was he?” “Yes, and a better man never lived than what Dave Hamilton was,” “And you have no idea who killed him—” At that instant the Chinee gave a violent sneeze, and the doctor looked in his direction and received a signal. “Does that hurt you, my friend?” the doctor asked, pressing his patient’s back in a certain place. ‘‘It does, eh? And aed is it there? Ah! we are coming at mre Some minutes were spent in that way. “About the murder,” the doctor ob- served as he ceased for a few moments; “it was too bad the murderer got away.” “Yes, so it was; but, if you mean that it was too bad that young man got away, I say no. I do not believe that he did the deed any more than you did, doctor.” “TI think I can do something for your back, yes, I think I can. But your case is a serious one, or it would be, if allowed to run on a little longer. Then you think they had hold of the wrong man, do you?” ‘Yes, I am almost sure of it.” $s What makes you think that?” fugss- ing among his medicines and selecting different vials. “Well, in the’ first place, he was on good terms with Hamilton. Next, he took no pains to hide his tracks. And then, which nobody else seems to see, he didn’ t go back to his cabin.” “What kind of fellow was he?” | “A fine fellow, every inch—anyhow, I | thought so, and so did Dave.” And the man entered upon a description. “Have you mentioned this point to your mayor? ”’ “No, not yet, sir.” “Why not?” “Well, ye see [I have sort of taken it ‘pon myself to hunt down the man that really did do it, and I thought mebby if I kept still about it something might come of it. But that don’t seem likely, so I have mentioned it to you. What I have done, though, I have sent for one of the best detectives in the West.” “Indeed! And who might that be? There, I think this mixture will benefit you, sir.” “Why, it is Deadwood Dick, Junior. Did you ever hear of him?” “ Allee samee me hab,” spoke up the Chinee. os CHAPTER XIV. CONFIDENCE EXCHANGED. Doctor and patient alike turned quick- ly and looked at the Chinaman. The Chinee was grinning, his slanting eyes were twinkling, and he twirled his hands one over the other within the sleeves of his loose blouse. “Yep,” he assured, “me allee samee hab hear tell Deadeewood Dickee. Me use Know him; me washee-wash him shirtee many time, you betee. Me know him, evely time, allee samee like tea.” “And you say you have sent for this man?” asked the doctor. “ Yes, sir,’’-said Turner. “Where you send?” asked the China- man. “Down to Phoenix, where | heard he had been lately.” © “ Alee samee mebby findee him,” said the Chinee. ‘“ Him good boy, you betee. One time kickee Chop Wong, makee me holla’ ki-yi!” We “Ha! that reminds me,” suddenly in- terrupted the doctor. ‘“‘What do you know about that foolish fellow here in the camp they call Ky-Ky, Mr, Turner? Has he always been foolish? ” “ Yes, I reckon he has, sir,” was the response, Turner supporting his back | with his hands as he spoke. “He has been that way ever since I came to the camp, and that’s as much as four years ago. The poor loon ‘will never be any better, to my mind.” sae) f have heard it hinted that some think he is recovering his senses, if he ever lost them.” % “Well, he does have spells, that’s rh x and they come oftener.” “How does he live?” ) “ He seems to hang on, somehow. Ther boys of the camp chuck him a crust cr a bone now and again, ’bout the same as _ they would to a dog.” “Tt is too bad. He would not allow experimenting, he I suggested to your mayor that maybe I might be able to do something for him, but the mayor for- _ bade me having anything to do with him. y | ae - That was what the mayor said, and Neaoress i 1 | so they c hogan in conversation as tie 4a a _ they wend sac way back again to the Rey Jolly Polly. : a NM sie &; Meantime, the greater part of the Bi! crowd was going in the same direction, -~—~—- but there were many who remained be- ———— ‘iAKhind to consult with the doctor, and ; By - among them was Turner. said,” “Is that so?” “Just as I tell you.” | “That is queer; I don’t see what differ- “What has that got to do with it?” Job stated the same point that we have seen Hot-head Smith bring to | | layor Eastwood’s notice. ence it could Meas | ‘ ins is a good point, ar a very good | you?” Pans ieee bet point—let me see, I mustn’t give you too “No, I do not, certainly being a ‘strong a dose to start with. Yes, that | stranger here. Just as well to Say si a4 is a very good point, and it is good. proof | ing about it, Mr. Turner; I would n if ees the young man did not do the deed.” | have your mayor think that I am med- | ri ure is What I hold, sir. Oh! my dling, you see.” — ees} jack!” “Certainly not; but it is atlas “We'll else that back shortly, I | should laveriere. | fanny he ar think. By the way, this is the same] “Now, about this medicine, Mr. Turn- a Vi cabin where he lodged, isn’t it? #1 er, Take it as I have directed, and come’ | The very OUR, sir.’ etd, Seana bey me on 1 What was it, Piss Probes, Ra Ne %, ; Tne : "A'Y ry i } j 4 } a+» a } re i A *’ ’ hy 5 i fe: ‘ aa : The doctor told them to form in line, | | ee: and his servant would admit them one pe ty? at a time, and in the scramble to sec ea (3) Mosh ‘ould be first, ‘Turner, with his ack, which had been giving him i: artintar trouble all the afternoon, since ae nis ae peony mamulns with the body b : : 5 ’ 3 ; ' P . - M F j 1c | > ’ : { ») * td ‘ Fi hs c a % 6 ") S% - % as » ; ay 5 ¥ ga “ie a ry as Hs | 7 he 7a at ’ he ;, Te ree es ie Soe te hy: " is a “bs! An es ui By pind: iy zt) rie of pitti J j ay ? oe a Ad am ok : eae si eat Ris ae ea ty gen xe nant Wee bas ot ea) defy itl Te Coe ~~ o’ Ce ~ — mi bs oe -—