Beadle's Half Dime Library, Vol. XIV, No. 351 — page 11: what you’re looking at

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———- — ——. says she will, she will, and that’s the end of it.’ So you know what you have to expect.” Dick could not repress a smile, while at the same time he felt annoyed. If she insisted, how was be to prevent her from following him? True, he couid take to his beels and run away from her, but that would be unmanly. “You had better consider wishes, Miss Stefford,” he said. ‘‘ You return to Nowhere, and remain at the hotel, until I see the general, If he grants the permission, I will at once come for you and conduct you to his presence,” “Oh, no! I prefer to gonow. So when you get ready to move on, I will follow.” “Then, J have but one other course, besides allowing you to accompany me!” ‘“ What is that?” ‘*To get rid of you by shooting you!” ** Of course you can do that; but I fancy you are too honorable a man for such a crime, “You areright. I acknowledge that, if you refuse to return to Nowhere, I am fairly beat- en, ‘Well, I do refuse.” “Then, come along. I shall not be res sible for tbe general’s displeasure, however.” He continued on his journey, and Stella walk- ed quietly by his side. After fully three miles had been covered, the turned from the main gulch into a narrow dar cut—a long, forbidding opeving, which seemed asif it might have been the work of an earti- quake, that had rent the mountain asunder, Far above the jagged rocks could be traced, dimly outlined, against the sky, ‘You had best take my hand, going through the pass,” Dick said, ‘‘for it is very rough.” She did so, and they continued on, It was indeed a dark, terrib'e place, and they had gone no great distance when Dick suddenly came to a stand-still. ‘Sh!’ he cautioned, ‘I thought I heard a oan,” ** 8 did I!” Stella replied, They listened, intently. A moment later, they distinctly heard a groan—that, evidently, of some one in distress, not far ahead. ‘Come! we will investigate!” Dick said. ‘‘ It _ sounds like a familiar voice.” They soon reached a spot, where a man’s body was lying among the rocks. “By Heaven! it is the general!” escaped Dick’s lips. It was indeed the general, whom Cathie bad forced to leap over the precipice, far above. He was not unconscious, for he recognized Dick and Stella at once, ‘‘Ob! I'm better than a dozen dead men, yet, and the vendetta is not ended,” he gasped. The general, strange to relate, was not dan- gerously injured, only his bip was dislocated and his body covered with bruises, A net-work of vines growing with rank luxu- riance from one side of the cliff had sensibly broken the force of his fall; otherwise he would have been crushed into a shapeless mass. Handy at anything, Dick was not long in tting the general comfortably over his shoul- er; then the eon a was continued, and in due time a mountain pocket was reached, where was a single rude cabin, which some san- guine prospector bad built and deserted. Being something of a surgeon, Dick soon re- stored the hip-joint to its socket, and dressed his wounds, and ere long bad him feeling com- fortable. The general then related in detail tne sub- stance of what had happened on the mountain- @, “It is strange!” Dick said, ‘' Pierre Parri- more must havea singular influence over your daughter if, indeed, she it was whom you en- countered.” “There can be no doubt but that it was my lost daugbter, And, as you say, it seems a hopeless task to attempt to convince her that she is not his daughter, or my enemy,” ‘‘She came near getting me in-a tight fix!” Dick said, grimly. ‘t Henceforth you and Miss Stafford must remain here, and I will watch this pretty avenger, and through doing so, learn where Parrimore is quartered. If I catch bim it will be all day with bim, if you but say the word.” ‘‘ What else can Ido? Heisa bad man, and in my present condition I could not meet him successfully.” “Then I will undertake the job of settling the business!” __. The next bour saw the intrepid rover on his _ Way back to Nowhere, | ne your father’s Deadwood Dick Sentenced. Upon his shoulders he had taken a heavy re- sponsibility—avenging anotber man’s spite. Then, too, be personally owed Parrimore a grudge for causing a mutiny of Dick’s band, and thus betraying his trust. CHAPTER XIV. PUMPKINS HOLDS THE DROP! Tue faces of Pierre Parrimore and Black Bird did not express the utmost satisfaetion, as the iant, Some Pumpkins, strode unceremoniously info their presence. Was it because of the giant’s imposing ap- pearance, or did his sudden coming interfere with their villainous plans? ‘*Haow d’ye do, pilgrims?’ Some Pumpkins saluted, closing the door, and straddsing the only chair the place afforded, “I ruther opine ye warn’t e tin’ this hyer bloomin’ zephyr to waft in, just at the present minnit?”’ ‘“No, we were not expecting you, here, although I had an idea that you might bave ar- rived in Nowhere. We were just speaking about you!” Parrimore Hllowed. “So Iam aware!” the giant chuckled. ‘ As the eaves of this »alatial abode war too low to let me in, wi’out stoopin’ I natterally had to eavesdrap, an’ heerd some conversation, quite interestin’ to me!” Parrimore and Black Bird exchanged quick glances. Some Pumpkins was watching them, narrow- ly, and something gleamed for an instant in his clinched palm. ‘Yas, I war highly edderfied at what I heerd, ye know!” Pumpkins went on, ‘‘an’ I thort ’d drap in and see ef I c’u’d git ana proximut idea of how soon you propose to spin my top!" if You may git it spun sooner than you think for if you get too fresh!” Parrimore growled. ‘* What brings you bere?” ‘* Business, o’ course. Hain’t ye glad ter feast yer optics on my bloomin’ pbiz, or hain’t ye, now?” ‘‘Tt matters not whether Iam, or am not, When did you get back?” ‘* This evenin’, jest in time, as usual, ter draw a prize. D’ye see this hyer souse?” And he exhibited the ear, still bleeding, at which Fakir Fred had hurled the knife, ‘““Yes, How did you get that cut?” ‘““Why, jest as simple, and easy, like, as rollin’ foff a log. I waltzed inter a saloon, ter hey sum fun, an’ war just startin’ up a quiet quadrille at ther expense of a dude, when a stranger lipped in, an’ all ofa sudden I hed nothin’ ter say, like I war aspanked svhool-boy. Whatever he told me to say or do, I war obligin’ enuff to do, like sum ignerant gawk, an’ when he told meto put my ear ag’in’a beama.’ let him fling a knife thru it, did 1 refnse? No sir-ee—not fer Joseph! I jest war as accommo- datin’ as a fly in dorg-time, I war. An’ when the galoot told me to go stand myself up ina corner, ter repersent a statter o’ the Godess 0’ Liberty, did Ido thet? Waal, ye kin jest bet yer best bi’led shirt I did!” ‘“ What then?” ; “Waal, I stood thar, like an ungumptified lummix, ontil the fellar played keerds wi’ a she- male, an’ she snatched a false beard off bim, an’ be lit out like a demoralized hornetin a Turkish bath. Then, I felt like myself, once more, and I folded my tent and, like the Arab, betook my- self hence, An’ peed fortune, together wi’ a befoggled brain, fetched me byar!” ‘| gee into it,” Parrimore said, turning to Black Bird, ‘‘I bave heard that the cuss, Dead- wood Dick, possesses almost’ miraculous mes- meric powers—in fact, seemed possessed of the evil, in more senses than one—and it is evident e’s been having some fun, at our friend’s ex- nse, ‘* Rather a bad go, ain’t it?’ the ruffian said, significantly. ‘Curse it, yes—that is, if he has in any way become possessed of the truth,” “Ye needn’t feel oneasy on that score!” Some Pumpkins spoke up. ‘He didn’t ax me nothin’ consarnin’ our bizness,” ‘‘ Ab! that alters the case, then, have you to report?” The giant grinned. «Dye seeany green in either of my eyes?” he demanded, a cunning glitter perceptible in them. “ DoI look like a galoot as was brought up on canary-bird seed, or fish-balls—which?” ‘You act like an infernal idiot!” Parrimore retorted. ‘‘Come down to business, now, and no more dilly-dallying! Did the messenger ac- Copan y oge ‘Waal, I should ker-sheeze not!” “What?” vb Well, what il ——s “You heerd me!” **Confound you, explain yourself.” ‘*Kasy enuff. The messenger tuk a shorter route, and arrived in Nowhere before I did.” “ How was that?” Ob! I reckon my spirituelle appearance didn’t impress ’em favorably, an’ bag calky- lated the messenger would be safer, ef he trav- eled alone.” ‘‘Hat Wary, and suspicious, eb? No doubt your infernal blundering was the cause of it!” ‘“Nary abit! Besides, you made one leetle mistake, me friend. The fortin’ war left to Estelle B. Stafford, and not Bijou Stafford, which considerably alters the complexion of the ca e see!” ** You lie, curse mors cried, furious **Look out!” and Some Pumpkins looked. ugly. ‘‘Kinder muzzle some 0’ thet sort o’ flat- tery, ef ye don’t wanter hev daylight let thr’u’ yer skull. Altbough I’m a livin’ exempliferca- tion o’ George Was lngyoniee, I ain’t purtic’ler good tempered bout this hour o’ night, an’ ye migbt arouse me to dangerousness, hat I sed is l fac’!” “ Well, what did you do about it?” “What did I do? Waal, I squirmed an’ twisted an’ wriggled the thing around, ’til I got the executor ter believe that Estelle B. Stafford an’ Bijou were one an’ the age an’ that there werent no other children. ; I got that much fixed, an’ the messenger war sent.” ““T suppose, of course, you would Know the man if you were to meet him?” Pierre Parri- more demanded oa G ** Dunno bow, ’ca’se I warn’t given a peep at him. He was to meet me in Nowhere, and make hisself known to me by uttering a certain word,” *“ Ah! what word?” Some Pumpkins grinned more broadly than ever. “That’s just what I happen to know, an’ you don’t,” he answered, with achuckle. ‘‘ Ye see, it ain’t allers advisable ter spin a top ontil the string aire all unwound.” ‘*Curse you! do you mean to play me false?” Parrimore roared, ina fearful rage. “If you do, you'll find out your mistake. Tell me that word, or I swear you shall never leave tbis place alive!” “*T sha’n’t, hey?” **'You shall not!” ‘‘ Who's goin’ ter hinder me?” And a wicked glitter entered the eyes of the big man from Canaan. “If thar’s sech a thing as snow in winter-time, just so sure hev I got the drap!” And accompanying the declaration, the jant?’s two arms suddenly shot out, and each and grasped a cocked revolver, : * 4 Hey? what yer say?” be cried, rising to bis feet. ‘Spin my royal top, hey? Pick up this hyer pilgrim fer a flat, will ye, an’ then ca)cker- late ter plant bim, will ye? Waal, I should reckon not/ When ye want ter know what that leetle word aire jest hunt me up an” soothe my itching palm wi’ a ten-thousand-dol- lar note; then I'l) tell you, and not until then. So, adieu, my tulips—my pinks—niy peonies— adieu; and when distant yards of terra firma divide us, pray remember that though sc mte- what undergrown for my age, I am still Some Pumpkins, and not as cg Be fool as I Icok!” And with a mocking bow he backed to the door, keeping the two ruffians covered as he went, To open the door and leap out into the black night, was but the work of a moment. ‘Come!” Pierre Parrimcre cried, when he was gone, ‘That devil must die before Le is seen by the messenger!” CHAPTER XV. ANOTHER STRONG MOVE. } “THe messenger mu-t not meet the giant!” Parrimore gritted, as they rap, bis breath short and quick, ‘If he does, the big cuss will secure the fortune by hook or crook, and we'll be left to whistle for our supper.” sy “Tye think he'll go to Nowhere, to-night?” — “No. He'll fight shy of there, for the [aby I dare say, but will nevertheless be actively on the watch.” = jay) “ Won't we ron a risk in entering the town” “No, None of the enemy will be lurking around tbis late.” F Parrimore’s surmise was correct. They visited the mining-camp, and msde a visit to the different resorts, but Some bbe 5 hp aE lie!” Pierre Parri- y. kins was nowhere to be seen, nor were they any way molested, ea ‘You must remain here,” Parrimore said. | after they had aailGlo the rat the — EComicbooks!com