Beadle's Half Dime Library, Vol. XIV, No. 351 — page 6: what you’re looking at

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

- rte ees 6 rt bration, under the auspices of the law, was a thing not to be missed, ‘‘for miles of mule- back” as one miner declared. And the profits of those places that sold “‘ old Bezam,” were not lessened by the influx of visi- tors, and the liquid poison had given many a person a good appetite for the ‘‘ treat” in store. One o'clock came, and the sheriff was seen riding toward the scaffold from the direction of his office. A cheer went up from thethrong. The ex- citement increased visibly, and the mob surged closer to the gallows, cager to ‘‘take in the whole show.” Cal Carter dismounted from his horse and mounted the scaffold. ‘t Weller-citizens!” be cried, ‘ther execution will not take place to-day. I have here a two days’ reprieve, signed by Governor Snelling. The prisoner is to have a motion heard for a new trial to-morrow, before Judge Axtell,” The crowd stood immovable and without ut- terance. So sudden had come the doom to their sanguine exnectations, that they were, for the time being, incapable of action; then, as of one accord, there arose a hoarse, vengeful yell, that fairly made the earth tremble—a yell that had in itself volumes of deadly meaning. ‘* Where’s the Guv’nor? Break bis head!” “ Lynch the outlaw !” ** Death to Deadwood Dick!” ‘* Break in the jail, an’ drag the cuss out hyer!” Such, and kindred cries, were heard on either. and. ‘* Order!” the sheriff cried. ‘‘ The Governor’s orders must be obeyed. Have patience, boys. The outlaw shall not escape. Bide yer time ’til he’s fetched up in court to-morrow; then’s the time fer ye to act!” The words were not without effect—and, but for them, the jail, in all probability, would have been broken open, and the prisoner lynched, zt nxt “Yas-wait till ter-morrer, boys!® a promi: . nént and leading spirit among the miners cried. ‘*Then ef we let him escape, its funny!” One after another accepted that as the best idea, and their opinions influenced others, until finally the mob was brought down to a compar- ative state of quiet. Whether it would remain so or not, daring the remainder of the day and the night, coul be only a matter of conjecture. The ruffian ~ element of Nowhere was by no means in the minority, and headed by a brutal, bullying wretch named Black Bird, it seemed to re- ard the action of the Governor with savage isfavor. This feeling grew as the gang felt the influ- ence of much liquor, and had the real Governor Snelling been about town, be would hardly have eared to face that ugly crowd. Inquiry at the hotel elicited the news that Governor Snelling was in his room, so the street mob’s attention was pretty evenly divided be~ tween the Prospect House and the jail, where the two talked-about personages of the day were respectively quartered. “If the Guv’nor tries to leave ther town it won't be healtby for him!” Black Bird declared boldly. He was a fierce-looking rough, of the most brutal character, His real name was Bird Black, but owing to his forbidding appearance cst pc had been reversed, and it fitted him well, And his significant threat was received with manifest approbation by his evil associates, Nor did Sheriff Cal Carter escape the blast of harsh threats. © ‘‘Ef ther prisoner escapes, Cal Carter shall take his place on the plank,” was the unanimous verdict, To which the official calmly replied: ‘* Ye needn’t fear o’ his escapin’, My deputy, * Frank Fowler, guards. the ail wi’ five trusty -moen, an’ you can bet thar’s no one gits past | him!” Fowler was the young man who had visited “Deadwood Dick to announce the call of the ** Governor.” = The day crept on toward nightfall. The sky thad become overcast, and the night promised to be intensely dark. eg ; Gradually the crowd in thestreet thinned out, until the camp assumed something of its every- _ day appearance. his was owing to two causes: A lar number of the visitors had mounted their mules or set out on foot en route for their bomes in while others had crowd-. _ the neighboring towns; _edinto the various drinking-saloons, “putting away ” the “ kill and were em quick” in quan- Deadwood Dick Sentenced. tities that threatened ere long to make ths camp a pandemonium. uring a free fight in Missouri Mag’s place, the vicinity of the jail was temporarily desert- ed except by Frank Fowler, who stood faithful- ly at bis post. Just then a boy came along and handed the deputy sheriff a slip of paper. it contained the following words: “‘ When you are off duty, at supper-time, call upon me! VERNOR SNELLING.”’ No expression of surprise was visible in the young man’s face, but he calmly slipped the note in his pocket. At supper-time he was closeted with General Stafford in the latter’s room. ‘** You sent for me, sir, and I am here.” “Glad you came,” Stafford said, blandly. “Your name, I believe, is F'owier?”’ **Tt is, sir—Frank Fowler.” ** What is your business?” “‘T have none in particular, except that the sheriff gave me a chance to earn a few dollars as his deputy.” ‘* Your bome is not here, then?’ “Ob, no! [came West to seek my fortune, but as yet I haven’t found it.” The general felt secretly elated. ‘Fortunes don’t grow on every bush,” he said seriously. ‘‘ How much money would you want before you would be content to return to your home?” “Tf I had a thousand dollars l’d leave this camp behind me mighty quick!” the deputy re- plied earnestly. ‘*Then, listen! Set Deadwood Dick at liber- ty, and you shall have the money.” ‘*That is impossible, sir!” “ "Why so?’ ‘Because I am not the only guard. There are five others,” ‘* Bven so; you can work it. You are on duty to-night, are you not?” se Yes,” ’ ‘Then, provide yourself with a quart of whisky, and put this drug in it. ben the camp quiets down treat your companions. They'll be asleep before they know it. Then release Deadwood Dick, and git up and git yourself. If you like, he will see you to a place of yo ** And you will give mea thousand dollars to do this?” ** Ay! two of ’em, if you will swear to do the job on the square, and be silent.” “Then I’m your man! LTve a sort of tender feeling for the sport, anyhow. Give me the money, and I swear Deadwood Dick: shall be liberated to-night!” “If I pay you, now, you have every chance to skedaddle with the money, witbout fulfilling your agreement!” the general said, eying his man, shrewdly. “Tf you have that little faith in me, you bad better not employ me!” Fowler said, candidly. **Tt isa dishonorable piece of work, I know, and were it not that I’d like to return home, I’d never think of accepting your offer.” ‘“‘There’s nothing dishonurable in saving a brave man’s life. Here, I will give you a thousand dollars down. When I see Deadwood Dick safe out of jail, you shall have the rest. I will not be far out of sight when you release bim, and will intercept you, and give you the rest. Is this satisfactory?” “Ttis. I will trust you, even though youare afraid to place confidence in me!” ‘‘ Very well. Here is the money, and the drug. , I shall be on the lookout, about two, A. M.” Fowler received the money, and took his de- rture. ‘Ha! ha! Who says I won’t succeed, now?” the general chuckled, exultantly. “Ahf Pierre Parrimore, I will yet clutch you by the throat!” —_—_— CHAPTER VII. THE ESCAPE. Wuen the inky mantle of night fell over the young mining metropolis, there was still more of a thinning out of the crowd in the street, and few if any of the motley throng remain- ed out of doors, when a drizzling rain set in. Fowler and the otber guards huddled about the door of the jail, and listened to the sonnds of drunken revelry, going on in the different saloons. | Bleck Bird and his gang were up at the Pros- pect House, as vigilant and watchful as fox- ounds. Their presence there, certainly was not without significance. They were waiting en LLL LLL LLL LLL LALA LLL LLL a for the Governor to appear, when it was their intention to stop him, What their designs were, further than this, could but be surmised; it was feared, however, by the law-abiding citizens, that ‘* His Excel- lency,’’ would be subjected to violence, Black Bird always traveled ‘‘ well heeled,” with cash, and was by no means stingy about: setting out the drink for his men; consequently they grew more vengeful and ugly the drunker they became, all of which gave their leader ap- parent satisfaction; for he’ himself kept sober. About an hour after nightfall, backed by his pals, be approached the counter, in the hotel office, and those who were standing abou knew that the crisis was now come which bh been impending, during the afternoon. ‘*See hyer!” Bird cried, addressing the dap- per clerk, over whose eyes General Stafford had so neatly ‘‘ pulled the wool,” I want ter see Jim Dorsey, the man who runs this ’ere shebang!” ‘*Mr. Dorsey is ill, and in bed, sir!” the clerk replied, secretly trembling in his boots, ‘Is there anything I can do for you?” ‘‘Yas, thar is. Just you tote yer shanks u to ther Guv’nor’s room, an’ tell him thet tha a party o’ gentlemen, down hyer, as wants ter see him!” ‘The Governor gave orders to the effect that: he was not to be awakened until time for the midnight stage, sir!” “D’you git, an’ tell him ef he don’t come down we'll fetch him down,in a hurry!” bel- lowed Black Bird, so ferociously, that Nibbin the clerk started off on a run, half-frighten out of bis wits. In five minutes, he came beck, looking still more frightened, for the Governor was not with i m. ‘‘ Well, what now?’ Black Bird gritted, lay-- ing his hand upon the butt of a revolver, ‘*T knocked repeatedly, sir, but there was no: answer. I then opened the door, with a latch- key, and found the roéin empty!’ ‘You lie, you cussed thief, Take that!” And whipping out a revolver. the ruffian fired full at the clerk’s breast, inflicting a mortal wound, Then yelling for bis comrades in crime to fol- low, be bounded away up the stairs, to the second floor. Uttering fierce curses, the liquor-crazed gang followed, and during the next ten minutes they were heard turning everything topsy-‘urvy, overhead, in their vain search for the ** Gover- nor,” who, with discretionary udgment, had ‘‘ folded his tent and stolen silently away.’ , When Black Bird and his ‘‘ braves ” returned down-stairs, toey were strangely docile, but the ‘‘citizens” of that lawless town knew that the change was but the calm before a storm. | In all probability the rufflans intended to wait until the town got quiet, and then take Deadwood Dick from the jail, and wreak a ter- rible vengeance upon bim. So surmised some, while otbers, who were not inclined to this opinion, were puzzied to know what was the next ect on the programme, The town became quiet, earlier than usual. Tbe pouring rain outside, prevented any of the usual street ‘‘ circuses;” and the excitement of tbe day bad £0 fatigued tbe goodly citizens. that they reiired to rest, in preference to stay~- ing wp late, as was their genera] custom. With the rcugber class, sleep was a necessity,. They were literally scaked with had liquor, and one by ove, began to drop off, into the realms of Morpheus, and once they were ‘* gone,” they were gone for the night, By midnight, although the saloons were stil} open, there was not a straggling miner to be seen, abroad. . Hugging to the side of the prison, so as to keep es much out of the rain as possible, the guards kept their vigil. The wind blew sorb the camp, with pierc- ing chill, and more than once the five com-_ panions of young Fowler Jooked wistfully to- ward the saloons, with a long-drawn sigh. “T think a little Bezam weuldn’t feel on- friendly to my palate!” one of them at last re- , marked. ‘You bet!” echoed asecond. ‘‘ My stomache feels as tho’ et bad been fruz fast to an ice- ss , ‘“Why. d’ye want liquor?” spoke uP Fowler, ‘“Why didn’t you mention abcut it, long ago? I brought a bottle along on purpose to keep off the chill.” ~ He produced the quart flask, and with joy- ful exclamations the men took a copious drink. — In a few miret 4 5] bp ay around again, “CO bid! eh oxofe) <S5G finally emptied. | oe cw - “ - 4 a ws . +?