Beadle's Half Dime Library, Vol. XIV, No. 351 — page 13: what you’re looking at

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

? as tak ee : Se Sh Bye tache, and an open, kindl Deadwood Dick Sentenced. ‘‘ Wherever I go I have sworn to end the ven- fetta. If I fall, you must take my place,” * ae Pierre Parrimore?” 46 es.” She looked undecided. He caught her arm, and pointed to the lone mound near the flower-beds, “‘'You see that?” he said. caused his death!” She grew white, but a terrible glitter entered her eyes, ‘“*Can you prove it?” she gasped. “Yes, Can you bear the proof, even though it bring to you a worse agony?” Whiter and more rigid grow her features. ‘*'Yes!” she breathed, with an effort, ‘‘ You refer to my husband and child?” “Tdo! Are you strong—will you bear the worst, for vengeance’ sake?” ‘IT will. Lead on!” She spoke with a stern resolution, that he knew would not fail her. ‘“‘Then, come!” he said. ‘‘I will not only prove to you who killed your brother, but enough so that you can have no doubts as to who is your father!” ‘ Pierre Parrimore CHAPTER XVIL. THE VICTIMS. SHE went into the cabin, put on her hat, and came out, armed with her handsome rifle, ‘oe am ready!” she said. ‘‘ Have we far to 0 va Not a great ways!” he replied, briefly. They started, without further delay. They did not go down the mountain-side, but skirted along it, gradually ascending. The route was rough, tortuous and dangerous, and locomotion extremely difficult; but at the end of an hour, they had reached a sort of dent in i mountain-side, overshadowed bya great edge. ere a sight met the gaze of poor Cathie, that wrung a shriek of agony and horror from her i Ext their feet lay the mangled remains of an infant, the better share of whose body had been devoured by the wolves. Near by, lay a man, a handsome fellow of about Dick’s own age, with light hair and mus- chiseled face. He was not dead, but death would have been a welcome visitor to him, for the flesh had been entirely torn off of his lower limbs, while his body was untouched. Near by, thongs clinging te a tree, told the reason why. He had been bound to the tree, but so high up, that the ravenous beasts could not reach beyond a certain hight. There was an expression of terrible agony upon the sufferer’s face, but he was still con- scious. “Oh! Ford! Ford! my poor husband!” Cathie shrieked, springing to his side. ‘Oh! merciful God, my child—my husband!” And she burst into a ic ns ee of piteous, heart-rendering screams and sobs, such as would have affected a heart of stone. : ‘Don’t, Cathie!” Ford Favor said, speaking with an effort. ‘‘ Do not give away to grief, at such a time as this. Thank a merciful that we are granted this meeting ere I die, through yonder gentleman’s kindness. Be calm, my lit- tle one, for [ must say what I have to say, quickly, I prayed that I might live to meet you again, on earth.” “Yes, Mrs. Favor, I beg of you be calm,” Deadwood Dick said, kneeling beside her, and laying his hand upon ber shoulder, while tears he was powerless to restrain, coursed down bis cheeks. ‘‘ Be calm, for grief cannot mend mat- ters, now. I found your husband here, this morning, where, with your babe, he was left by Pierre Parrimore and Black Bird. I drove off the wolves. Your husband requested me to come for you, and I did so, althongh it wrung my heart to fetch you to so sad a scene. So, be brave, I beg of you!” Finally with an effort, Cathie conquered her Dey somewhat—enough so that she was able to ear Ford Favor’s last utterances, before his spirit took its flight to that unexplored bourne, whence ea ee “They took me by surprise—Pierre and Black Bird,” he explained, “and brought me here. Pierre assured me that I should die here, and sol will. He said you were a rich prize for him, and [and our babe were in the way. When they left me, they told me they were going to kill Joe, and our friend here, has told me, that they did so, Cathie, you are not Par- rimore’s child, for he told me so, thinking to mock my misery. They left me here to die, Our babe died of starvation, yesterday, and therefore suffered nothing from the attack of the wolves. As for myself, 1 have suffered, but what of that? I see aclear way, ahead of me, darling, and will meet you—over—there, I—” He ceased to speak, and his face grew whiter and rigid. Cathie, with her face buried in her hands, understood the silence; she uttered a piercing shriek, and sunk back, in a dead swoon. With bowed head, Deadwood Dick remained silent, for a few minutes—praying, sari? then, he set to work, to perform what remained to be done, After extraordinary exertions, he succeeded in restoring Cathie to consciousness, and re- ducing her grief to a state of comparative quiet. He then prepared a temporary grave near at band, and there buried all that was earthly of Ford Favor and the babe, until such a time as a more befitting tomb could be provided. Cathie watched him, with a face as white as marble, and oyee that gleamed with a wild, unnatural ligh When the work was finally completed, she icked up her rifle, and went and knelt by the umble grave. : There she remained for several minutes. She had ceased to weep, and a stony calmness of demeanor had taken possession of ber. Finally, she arose, and turned to Deadwood Dick, saying: ‘Il am deeply indebted to you, sir. Nota doubt exists in my mind, now, but what Gen- eral Stafford is my father, and but for you and bim I would now be friendless. Come! I am ready to go, The trail lies plain before me, and [ will followit. You can accompany me if you like!” ‘* You speak of the trail of vengeance?” Dick said, interrogatively. “T do. Triple cause have I to segk venge- ance, aside from that of the vendetta. Pierre Parrimore and his pard shall not see the light of this world twenty-four hours longer. I have registered an oathtothat. Come! We will sur- prise the wolf in bis lair!” They accordingly left the scene of Ford Favor’s tragic death, and descended the moun- tain-side. Half-way down, they halted. They had suddenly stumbled on a sight that was peculiarly interesting. Upon a slight plateau, were three familiar - figures, taking part in astrange scene. Two of the figures were of the whisky-ab- sorbing firm of Soaker and O’Gall. These two were seated upon a log, and each one held a pair of cocked revolvers in their grasp. Lying at their feet, under the menace of the weapons, was the giant from Canaan, Some Pumpkins. The bummers had got the giant ‘‘ dead to rights,” so to speak; but with what object? ‘Humph! here’s a go!” Dick said, in a low tone. ‘‘I reckon we shall have to walk into this matinee; come!” ; They welked forward, with weapons drawn and ready for use. Soaker and O’Gall made no move to remove their ‘“‘ drop” on the giant, however. ‘* Hello, here!” Dick cried. ‘‘ What’s your racket, my three canary birds?” ‘* Hello, yerself!” Sis Soaker responded, ‘It never rains but it pours, an’ this byer water- spout aire ther luckiest thing yet. You're Deadwood Dick, ain’t you?” “*T am,” ‘Then allow me—we aire Soaker and O’Gall, gents of all trades—not jacks, please distinctly understand that. And you're the very galoot we want to see, aire you? I hev a question to propound |” O'da ae have a question to propound,” corrected ‘*'Yes, of course—we.” “Well, propound it!” Dick ordéred. like the mule—all ears.” “Good joke! Ha, ha!—very good! You soe, my dear sir, we are two gentlemen of leisure, ostensibly; but ad interim, in reality, we are Government inspectors of wines and liquors. The avocation not proving properly compensa- tory, we concluded to add another profession— namely, detectivism. This is our first case.” ‘* A fine-looking case, I’ll agree,” Dick laugh- ‘*T am ed. ‘But, goon.” - ‘‘ Well, my dear sir, the question is this: Be- fore us we have a Valuable case, which indi- rectly concerns you. Are you willing to pay for such valuable information as we can diffuse, or shall we quiet our own individual scruples, ne and gobble up the whole potent dose of swill to. the enrichment of our own pockets?” ‘That depends, my worthy friend. If you have any important information for me, I will pay for it [according to its value—after I hear it,’ “That won’t work. We're working for col- lat, and collat we'll have, ef we bave to turn this risover over to Pierre Parrimore!” ‘You bet! Pierre Parrimore would show a flush hand for this chap, an’ he’s worth every cent as much to you.” ‘*T fail to see how!” **°Ca’se you’re in snucks wi’ one General Staf-- ford, an’ this byer giant would give a heap to git away, ’ca’se he hes a ’portant secret, worth swads o’ money to one 0’ the gineral’s darters!’’ “What kind of a game are you trying to trump up now, you miserable bum? If you have got anything important for me to know, out with it at once, or [ll blow your head off!” ‘* Blow and be hanged. Make us an offer, an’ ef itis fair, we'll onload, Otherwise, we deal wi’ Pierre Parrimore!” **Humph! how much will the information be worth?” ‘*To Estelle B. Stafford, one hundred thou- sand dollars!” ** What’s your price?” ‘‘A year’s every-day drunk apiece. At pre- sent, it takes ten dollars a day, each, to keep us comfortable and snug. Ten times three hun- dred and sixty-five is three thousand, six bun- dred and fifty dollars. That sum two times is: a three bundred. That’s our rice ioe Se as Mistber Soaker—I object,” spoke up O’Gajl. “ Yez forgetsoomthin’. Six months. hence, tha whisky will not be havin’ tha same effeck as now, an’ tin dollars a day will not do us—not kape us even sinseless!” ‘““You’re a hog!” Soaker growled. ‘ Hang yer stupidity, won’t our face be equal to the emergency? Waal, I should croak! “Yes, sir, Deadwood Dick, seven thou- sand, three hundred will let you plum inter our confidence!” ‘Dirt cheap!” Dick said, reaching into an in- ner pocket, and taking out a wallet which con- tained a large sum of counterfeit money, which. he bad captured during a raid, several months before. ‘To make even change, I'll give you four thousand apiece. Here you are!” The bummers received the money with de-- light, and not waiting to examine jnto its actual. worth, shoved it down into their pockets. ‘‘Now, then,, unburden yourselves,” Dick said, ‘‘ and be quick about it,” Soaker did so. He related how McClurg, alias: Parrimore, bad sought to hire them, and how, later, they had entered his employ to learn whatever fellin their way, After ee the hut in theravine, the night of Deadwood Dick’s escape from Missouri Mag’s, they had pried around, played eavesdropper, and overbeard all that was said in the hut. The substance of this they related to Dick; also how they had captured the giant, and’ his refusal to speak the word by which the money- bearing messenger from the South was to make bimself known!” “That ain’t all!” Soaker continued. ‘We just come up from the town, and there’s the deuce to pay down there, and loads of it!” He then told of Pierre Parrimore’s coming to Nowhere, and bow be had aroused the le to arms, by narrating General Stafford’s trick to release Deadwood Dick, “Ther town is in a boiling commotion,” Souker added, ‘‘an’ parties are being organized. and «quipped to scour the neighboring country fer you and the general!” ‘« Let ’em scour,” Dick said, grimly. ‘“* When our mission is accomplished we’ll bid them find us, if they can.” “ Will there not be danger of their discover- ing my father and sister, even before we can — our mission?’ Cathie asked, anxi- ously. ‘Perhaps. We will see to that, directly. In regard to this fortune business, I have already marked the man who I am satisfied is the messenger. I will find out of Some Pumpkins, here, the word; then he must be held a prisoner until the thing is settled.” - ‘*Haow d’ye know you'll find out the word?” the giant demanded, speaking up, for the first. “T ain’t sech a fool as to give it up,” ‘¢T will see!” Dick replied, calmly, throwing the full force of bis magnetic gaze upon the big man. “ Ha! I fancy you are already mine. . Tell me! Are you feeling well?” i oe ‘* Quite well, thank you.” : cComicbooks:com