Beadle's Half Dime Library, Vol. XIV, No. 351 — page 12: what you’re looking at

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

12 hote]. *‘The messenger, whoever he is, is un- doubvtedly keeping himself incog. It will be your business to stuuy every stranger in the camp, and in that way learn who the messen- ger is. If Pumpkins reappears, look sharp! Disguise yourself, and do not for an instant los» sight of the giant. If you see him con- versing with the messenger, send a bullet through his heart, and come at once for me. Remember, there’s fat money for you, if we win!” The villain went back to the hut, then. Au arrant coward at heart, he was afraid to expose himself, lest he should become a tar- et for the pistol of his hated foe, General Staf- ord, Several days passed, with but one incident to cause a commotion among the citizens of the camp. Two nights in succession, the incoming stage bad been halted by a band of masked road- agents, and the ssengers and treasure-bUx robbed of everything of value. Of course the crime was laid to Deadwood Dick, for no one in Nowhere, except those who chose to keep ‘‘mum,” were aware of the fact that it was Pierre Parrimore who led the raid, Dackog as he was by Deadwood Dick’s traitor nd. This was exactly what Parrimore wanted the people to believe—that Deadwood Dick was at the head of the road-agents; it would arouse them to greater indignation toward the famous ex-prince of the road. Bird Biack communicated regularly with the schemer, at the hut, but bis reports had no news, Nothing bad been seen of Some Pumpkins; and there were so many strangers in camp, as to make it impossible to pick out the messen- ger. Cathie, too, had been down to the hut, and told of her encounter, but brought no assurance that Daniel Stafford really was dead. Thus it was that matters stood, when Pierre Parrimore received a note through the Nowhere post-office, which read thus: *PrerrReE PARRIMORE:— Commissioned by General Stafford to end the vendetta, I shall begin the work at once. Derapwoop Dick!” A startled expression shot athwart the vii: lain’s face as he tore the note into bits. ‘Curse the fellow! I fear him more than a dozan Staffords. I must indeed be wary, lest the vendetta be ended by my own destruction.” He sat for an hour in a deep study, then with a fierce, triumphant expression upon his face, he left the hut, mounted his horse, and rode ra- pidly to Nowhere. The camp wore its every-day appearance, as ‘he’ dashed up the main street, but he had noeye for this commonplace fact. He dismounted in front of The Stuff office, and drawing a revolver, fired six shots into the air. That was as good as a column advertisemrent, for itdrew a crowd of people around him at once, who were eager to know what was the **racket,” and see the fun, if there was any to be seen. Seeing the crowd, Parrimore vaulted into the saddle, and ran his eye over the sea of faces. “ Gentlemen!” be began, ‘I am a stranger to most of you, but I chance to havea bit of in- formation that I presume you will all relish, as it yindicates the honor of one man while it eviminates another. Is your sheriff present?” Calvin Carter cop ae forward. - ‘*T’m thet man!” he said. ‘*Good! A short time ago you had a con- demned prisoner in your jail, whom you were to hang—Deadwood Dick? ss Yas.” **Upon the day he was to hang, two men were registered at the hotel—Governor Snelling and a General Stafford?” ‘* Well?” ‘‘Prior to the hanging, the Governor paid ‘you a call, and got permission to visit tke pris- oner?”’ ‘* He did.” ** Previous to his visit, General Stafford and his daughter bad departed on the stage?” ‘* So I believe, sir.” ‘‘ When the time came to hang the prisoner, you received an official notice from the Gov- ernor, granting a temporary respite, did you noi? ; ‘*1.0i0.” ** Asa result, Deadwood Dick escaped.” ** He did.” “Exactly, And you all loudly denounced the Governer as the prime cause.” ** Cuss him, yes!” **Well, my worthies, you denounced the wrong man!” Deadwood Dick Sentenced. “What?” A hundred voices seemed to utter the word, simultaneonsly. ‘*T say you denounced the wrong man,” Par- rimore repeated, triumphantly. ‘‘It was not General Stafford who went away on the stage, but Governor Snelling. It was not Governor Snelling who granted the respite, but General Stafford, anti he, too, it was, who bought off Frank Fowler, and secured the liberation of the outlaw !” A cry of astonishment and indignation went up. ‘* How do you know this?’ Carter demanded. ‘“] know it—that’s all. Stafford and I are bitter foes, and have sworn to kill each other. He knew he could not battle with me alone, and so, by releasing Deadwood Dick, he ac- quired a valuable ally. He and his daughter are now with Deadwood Dick, and are as re outlaws as the road-agent devil him- self! ‘“How about the order!” Carter demanded, wee ly, “Your story don’t hang well togeth- er?” “You are wrong. Stafford and Snelling bad been friends for years. As Snelling is too hon- orable a man to do anything treacherous, there can be no doubt but what Stafford helped him- self to the gubernatorial paper and seal, in or- der to further his scheme, criminated himself by forging the chief magistrate’s name. Snel- ling, noble fellow, bore the brunt of public de- nunciation in silence rather than that his friend should suffer for a criminal offense!” The villain’s harangue made a strong im- ahs and utterances of indignation were to heard on every side. ‘If this be true!” Cal Carter cried, the color leaping into his cheeks, ‘“‘no pains shall be spared to hunt up the dastard, and mete out to him the punishment he justly deserves!” **Rigbt, you!” Parrimore cried. ‘‘ Stafford, at this moment is not a dozen miles away, keep- ing in hiding, in fear of bis life, and all we want isa general uprising of the people to hunt him out of his hole, and vindicate your Governor’s honor. Hurrah! I say! Let every man put in his voice, and shout ‘Death to Daniel G, Stafford !’” And the lusty yell that went up fully indi- cated that the scheming scoundrel had scored a ‘ten strike,” CHAPTER XVI. DICK TRIUMPHS AGAIN, ABOUT the same hour that saw Pierre Parri- more in Nowhere, haranguing to the crowd, Cathie was to be seen in front of her cabin- home up the mountain, busily engaged at the wash-tub, while a line of clothes strung from the cabin to a neighboring tree, showed that she —_ already accomplished a good share of her ask. It was a warm, asi day, and she preferred doing her work out of doors, where the birds aah in the tree-tops, and all Nature seemed smiling and happy. Cathie, too, seemed in better spirits than usual, even though she now and then cast a sor- rowful glance at the mound where rested all that remained of her erring brother Joe, ‘* Poor Joe!” she murmured. “Oh! that he could have lived and done better! Sometimes I have half a notion that we are not the chil- dren of Pierre Parrimore. Day by day he mani- fests more and more the disposition of the snake —the venomous and rancorous wretch. That is not my nature—far from it. At any rate, I cannot say I am so that General Stafford was not killed in that terrible leap.” She shuddered as she looked toward the cliff, and recalled the scene of a few nights before, **Tf—if it should really turn out that he was my parent, oh! how could I ever forgive my- self? But, bah! I do not believe a word of it. I do not believe a word of it. Par- rimore may be a villain, but he did not lie when he rehearsed to me the story, over and over again, about the terrible vendetta, and how Joe and I were snatched from our home in infancy by Daniel Stafford. No! no! Iam not a Stafford, but a Parrimore, and I did right in making our et foe take that leap from the cliff. Yet, it can hardly be otherwise than that he still lives.” ‘Young lady, you are wrong!” It was a cool, pleasant voice that made the declaration—a voice Cathie recognized even be- fore she wheeled, and saw perched composedly ao a rock a few yards away—Deadwood ick! Never did the dashing mountain rover look to better advantage. He was attired with scrupu- a ty oe Lee EEE —————— ep “4 lous neatness, and his face bad more of its old boyish devil-may-care abandon of expression. Not a day older scarcely did he look than when he had made famous the name of Dead- wood Dick when Deadwood City was in the hey- day of its glory. A shade of pallor came over Cathie’s face as she saw him, and her hand instinctively sought the revolver always in the belt about ber waist. His odd laugh, however, caused her to desist from touching the weapon. “IT wouldn’t if I were you!” he said with that composure of tone that was, in its self a command. “We're not flipping the pasteboards just now, and there’s no particular need of resorting to the fhe tools. Sbould there be, Iam quite handsomely prepared to furnish the music for the festival!” ‘*What brings you here?’ she demanded. “You are an intruder upon these premises, sir, and I command you to depart.” ‘“Indeed! I have no idea of doing anything of the sort just yet, Miss Stafford. If I had, in all probability, I should not have come. You see, I just came down to have a little chat with ” ‘*] do not know you, sir. Again I command you to go!” ‘“And again I as politely refuse. You say you do not know me. I was of the impression that we had an introduction to each other the other night at Missouri Mag’s.” ** Sir, I do not care to talk with you. Weare enemies, and if youdo not leave I shall go in tbe cabin and shut the door,” Dick laughed. ‘*That’s all utter nonsense!” heassented. * I'll bet ten dollars to a cent you can’t move a muscle, except at my will!” The pallor had returned to Catbie’s cheeks. Her features, too, had assumed a sort of rigidity of expression, “You'll give in that I’ve got you, eh?” he de- manded, grimly. Yes!” was the submissive answer. ‘“That’s right. You begin to act sensibly. If I were to command you to go and leap from yonder cliff, as you forced General Stafford te do, you would do so, would you not?” For a second there was a convulsive working of her features, as if she were struggling fiercely to break the spell that bound her; then ber fea- tures gradually tempered down to repose, and she said, faintly: \ ae Yes!” An expression of triumph flitted across Dead- wood Dick’s face. ** Then go and take the leap!” he thundered. She turned mechanically, and walked straight toward the cliff. ““My power over her suprises even myself!” Dick muttered. ‘‘She would walk on to de- struction, did I not prevent her. Halt!” he added, ina sharp tone, ‘‘Come back!” She balted, turned around, and walked back to the precise spot she had started from. “You arean apt pupil,” Dick laughed. ‘You were just going to walk into the jaws of death. Why did you make General Stafford leap over that cliff? ‘Because he was my father’s enemy!” » ‘*Did he not tel) you that he was your father?” “ce Yes. ” **'You wouldn’t believe bim?” sé No !”? ‘““If I were to assure you that General Staf- mk is really your father, would you believe me “ Yes ” “You only think so. If I were to give you your freedom, you would not say so.” **T would!” ‘“‘Tll try you then, and see!” The words were scarcely out of his mouth, ere she gave a violent start, and the coior of health rushed back into her cheek, “There. Now, what have you to say for yourself?” he asked, coolly. ‘‘J—I don’t know!” she replied, confusedly. fs a proce ‘Do you remember anything you bave just passed through.” ent " ‘‘I—I remember of saying I believed you, when you said General Stafford was my father.” ** Do you still believe me?” ‘Ido, You are a strange man, but some- how, I am sure you are a truthful one. Where is General Stafford?” “But a few miles away. You want to see him?’ “Yes, yes!” “You cannot, yet. You must come with me, at eEOMICHOOKSECOM