Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 294 — page 16: what you’re looking at

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

| promisin 16 ‘Our duty ister find the landlord ov ther Setem- up Off we ar’!” he three pards touched their borses with the spur and dashed away in the first flushes of awn, observed by a few who were early astir, and those who in the Full-Hand Casino had turned night into day. ‘‘That means something,” said a man who from a window of the Setemup, believed to be entirely without a tenant, as his eye followed the three horsemen. ‘It may be the beginning of the war to the knife proclaimed by Paradise Paul, but I confess that I don’t exactly under- stand this daybreak gallop from Deadwood, Those left behind will be looking for me no doubt. Well, gentlemen, I am here—a rather dangerous customer, and may be you'd better not tackle me.” The speaker looked toward the two heavy revolvers that lay on a table near by and within reach of his hands, and his handsome eyes glowed like twin stars. It was our old acquaintance, Broadcloth Burt, and he appeared quite at home in the littie upper room of the Setemup, with his feet ele- va on the table, and a cigar held coolly between bis teeth. When he glanced from the window again the three toughs had disappeared, an event which did not seem to disturb him in the least. -“ Well, if I baven’t landed in a den of tigers, set me down for a dolt!” be suddenly laughed. ‘*] am pitted against them all, and just because I want to heal a suffering woman’s heart. But I'll do it! Ob, Paradise Paul, you may sieer down the letter I threw on your table; but [ll bring about the time when you'll cower before the merciless avenger of guilt.” He might have said more, for he seemed in a talkative mood; but as he paused the door of his room began to open, and when it was wide enough to admit the head of a man, the Denver dandy had thrust forward his two re- volvers. : ‘*Come in!” he said, in tones of stern com- mand. ‘You want to see me. I am here. Come in, or [ll kill you on the spot!” CHAPTER XIX. BOWIE BLUFF'S ‘‘ TRADE.” BROADCLOTH BuRT knew that the door had not opened of its own accord; but we do not think he could have guessed the identity of the man behind it. His last words were calculated to either bring the spy forward, or make him beat a precipi- tute retreat, it bad the first-named effect. Tne last word had scarcely ceased to resound ere the face of the visitor appeared, and leered — remarkable covulness into the Denverite’s ace, “Oh, it’s you, is it?’ said Broadcloth Burt with a smile of disappointment. ‘‘Do you want to see me?” “ Wal, I warn’t nosin’ ’round fer _ exactly, but since I’ve found you, we might hev a con- fab. Kin 1 sit down? “Stand whar you are,” was the uvcom- reply. ‘‘It appears to me that you are working out of your territory. Don’t they miss you at Iron-Grip?” **Ob, I dunno,” and the captured spy, who was our former acquaintance, Bowie Bluff, _ attempted a smile in the face of Denver Burt’s revolver, but it was a sickly one. ‘Pye heard of men turnio up missing that never got home again,” the Denver sport con- tinued, *‘ but maybe Lron-Grip can spare certain of its citizens.” | _“ Mebbe she kin,” was the desperado’s obser- vation. “See hyar, Broadcloth; [ll be squar’ with ye. I didn’t expect ter find ve hyar, thet’s a fact. I war lookin’ fer ther kernul. He isn’t on the premises.” “So I conclude, since I’ve visited every room in the hotel. He must hev left Deadwood.” Perhaps.” Played the coward, just like him. Say, Denver, what’ll ye give me ter put ye on ther track ov ther Deadwood queen?” * Alice?’ asked the Denverite, starting. **No one else! I know suthin’.” ' “You ought to; you came herewith Merciless Maud.” | ~ “Not much,” denied Bowie Bluff. ~ The Denver dandy smiled. —**You ean’t lie to me, Mr, Iron-Grip,” he said, looking Bowie Bluff out of countenance with a pair ot etrating eyes. ‘Merciless Maud _will not lie.” ** Did she tell you?” ? A gry **Then I guess I did come ter Deadwood with bie the scamp ag mitted. “For a purpose Kinder so.” ** Wasn't it to abduct Alice?” Who said so?” | “T did; you heard me.” “Now, really, Broadcloth Burt, ?m not on ber waotheer o -- ae I Arte pty on e got ther advantage ov this at ther “present Spt Can’t we eompramisef” “* How “By goin’ back ter my original question an’ Broadcloth Burt, ee ee ivin’ me an answer. What/ll ye give ter find eadwood’s queen? Thet war about ther pur- port ov it, I b’lieve. Now, Broadcloth, what bo say?’ he Denverite did not reply. “I'm no fool if I did come from Iron-Grip, ther only anti-whisky town in Dakota, You a Alice; you came ter Deadwood arter er,’ ‘Well, if I did, you haven’t got her to sell,” flashed the Denver sport. “T hevn’t, eb?’ grinned Bowie Bluff. ‘* Would a man ov my Caliber sell a secret ef he hedn’t ' one ter sell?’ a TTT ETO TL LE TOLLE EEE TTL LLL The keen eyes of the villain thought they detected an enger start on the Denverite’s per Bowie Bluff was no fool; he had in bis head what might be called an “eye for business,” Broadcloth Burt no longer covered with him the two revolvers, but his fingers still clutcbed them as they touched the rim of the table at which he sat, and bis eyes closely regarded the man from Lron-Grip. ‘* You sell secrets, do you?” he said sarcas- tically addressing his visitor. ‘‘ What’s the market price?” ‘“What "ll you give?’ asked Bowie Bluff. ‘* Don’t you forget it, Denver, that the easiest way ter win ther game ye came byar to play is through Bowie Bluff from Iron-Grip. I ap- preciate the motive that fetched ye hyar. I’ve dissolved partnersbip with the woman I j’ined at this place. My last act wer’ to save ber from a brace of shunks who war goin’ to practice on her hand with their revolvers. e an’ thet Mormon tigress hev been pards fer a year, but lve left ther firm. I’m not used tersellin’ secrets, but I want you ter win.” ‘** You didn’t twenty-four hours ago?” ‘*Thet’s a fact, Denver. Ther partnership warn’t dissolved then.” ‘*'You hate Merciless Maud now, don’t you?” ‘‘Not exactly, but 1 want you to win, don’t you see?” “Certainly. And you will tell me where Alice is for a consideration ?” sé Yes.” ‘“Is Maud there, too?” ‘1 can’t just answer that, but I know whar blooms Deadwood’s rose, I’m goin’ back ter Iron-Grip, Denver. I want ter win my bet whenlgetthar.” © — ** What’s that to me?” asked Broadcloth Burt. ‘‘Suthin’ important, mebbe. I bet fifty an’ ot ther dust up—all I had—when I left that ’d come back inside ov two months with three bundred. [il throw off twenty-five, Denver, an’ run ther risk ov pickin’ it up ’twixt byarand thar on my backward trip. Don’t you see it? For two seventy-five I'll guide ye ter Alice.” Broadcloth Burt rose slowly to his feet with his eyes riveted on the man from Iron-Grip. With noiseless tread he came around the table, holding Bowie Biuff in his spot as if he the powers of fascination. ‘You sell me the girl for money, do you ?” he hissed in cutting tones. ‘‘ For two seventy- five you will turn traitor to some one and dis- grace lron-Grip? You’ve gota liberal conscience to throw off that twenty-five. I don’t want Alice in that manner. don’t intend to buy justice by purchasing a traitor.” ‘“Obh, you don’t, eh?” sneered Bowie Bluff with tantalizing coolness, ‘Then I s’pose the trade ‘s off. You don’t want ther queen ez bad . I thought yedid. Wal, thar’s another mar- et. ‘‘Not with you for a seller!” came madly over the lips of the Denverite, ‘‘ Look here, villain. I’ve a notion to paint the wall bebind you with your brains, I will get there in the end, without your assistance. You may sell your infernal secret, but / don’t buy it. Git out of this house! It’s mine now since the proprie- tor’s gone. I paid in advance for these quarters the day I got here. Idon’t desire any further poqermanes with a secret seller from Iron- rip. ‘*Oh, you don’t! The time will come when you’l) wish you bad traded with me,” ‘Never! Thar’s the door! Git!” The man from Iron-Grip glanced from the — verennee that looked “? “7 face to the oor standing open vonened or bis exit, f ull b ‘* Do you occupy the ouse?” he asked. sé es.” ‘* Whar’s yer baggage?” “T will not kill time with you, Bowie Bluff, you must get out of this hotel!” ‘* Thet’s blamed cruel, It’s daylight now, an’ the toughs ov Deadwood don’t like me, Ye ar’ goin’ ter keep mum hyar till night. What ef our trade did fail. The Setemup’s big enough fer both ov us.” . ‘‘T inbabit it alone,” was the stern rejoinder. **Can you see the door?” “ Kinder so, Broadcloth.” “Then go! I’ve got the drop on you, and if you are not gone when I have counted, ten, Dll scatter your brains. I'll find Alice without having to buy a secret froma dog that'll how] any way for a Lone!” bat seemed to decide the man from Iron- Grip; he stepped back from the revolvers and moved toward the door which was wi three feet of the top of the stairs. 4 ; * * : yoy ae ny ie ~ $. i O) ada * » s.% Pr * — i ih : sm a . > i the Denver Dandy. a ee > ee — After his last words, Broadcloth Burt sealed his lips in a manner which told that he would say no more, and kept eyes and revolvers on the man he had cornered, He saw Bowie Bluff strike the first step and then move suddenly down the stair. A hasty stride carried the Denverite across the landing. At the door below that led into the famous ‘‘reception room ” of the Setemup, he stopped and glared up into the face of Broadcloth Burt with the savagery of a Comanche. ‘*Win an’ wear, my Denver daisy!” he ex- claimed, ‘‘ Find an’ take the Deadwood beauty home—ef ye kin! It'll be a rainy day when ye git abead ov the man from I[ron-Grip. Ob, I’m a Jim-derdy when I’m riled—a reg’lar rip snor- ter from Snorterville when I’m trod on, When you git the girl an’ beat Merciless Maud an’ ther rest ov ‘em, just drop me a line! It'll do me goon ie gies you an’ yer daisy scheme awa). He made a ludicrous bow a3 he uttered the rting salute, and vanished from the Denver- ite’s gaze. ‘‘The infamous dog! I might have choked him to death, an’ I should have doneit. A pis- tol-sbot would have betrayed me. The next time #e meet may I be free to treat the villain as he rleserves,” Tins -poke Broadcloth Burt as he drew back into the little room beyond the landing. A moment later he heard the opening and closing of a door. ‘‘Is the man foolish enough to try to leave Deadwood in full view of its toughs?” be asked, stepping to the window. ‘“ He has no other wry of escape, and a desperate devil like Bowie Bluff will dare any danger.” The man from Denver was right, for the fol- lowing moment he saw the figure of the des- perado in the street in front of the botel, and caught the flash of bis eyes as he glanced up at the window. ‘* He’s going to attempt it,” murmured Broad- cloth Burt. All at once four men sprung from the in- terior of a shanty within pistol-shot of the dar- Ang aEe owie Bluff halted, and the Denverite in- voluntarily shrunk from the window. ‘‘Hands up or drop!” exclaimed the four, who seemed to recognize Bowie Bluff at a glance. He was covered in an instant, and so sud- denly that be had not time to put bis hand on the six-shooter on bis hip. ‘“‘They’ve got you bad, Bowie Bluff,” said the Denver dandy from bis position, in the upper room. ‘ When you get to carry out your schemes, please let me know.” Already the man from Iron-Grip bad thrown up one hand, and as the other followed, he wheeled toward the hotel. ‘* Yonder’s a man you want worse than you do me!” he cried, inting toward Derver Burt’s window. ‘*‘ I’ve just left the Denver devil, an’ he’s at the mercy ov yer revolvers,” Broadcloth Burt, thanks to a broken glass, heard every word, “Vil pay him for that low revenge!” be hissed, springing across the room. ‘‘ We’ll end it right bere, Mr. Bluff!” A moment later up went the window, and at the crack of the sport’s revolver aman fell for- ward with a wild cry! Tt was Bowie Bluff, The four sports seemed thunderstruck. CHAPTER XX, OVER THE DENVER TRAIL. A SHORT time before the sharp crack of the Dandy’s deadly pistol, the Denver stage, with Big Jehu on the box, left Deadwood and stirred the dust of the old trail. **@ lang!” rung out bis ery, as he cracked bis whip over the heads of the horses. ‘‘ We bevyn’t a passenger yet, but we’re goin’ ter pick up one afore long, ef ther Mormon’s got sense enough ter remain whar I left ’im last night. He’s waitin’ fer me now, mighty glad ter go back ter ther bosom ov his family ; an’ ef he doesn’t stay thar in ther future, an’ quit this risky wife- buntin’, he’ll wake up some mornin’ an’ find all his wives widders. Git up! g’lang, my snortin’ thoroughbreds!” And away lumbered the stage, leaving Dead- wood behind in a cloud of dust. Big Jehu was ahead of the three pards, picked from among the thirty by their captain for the search for Alice. He was anxious to reach the spot where he had left Timothy Tenwives, the Mormon, on the preceding night, not from any love he bore the old polygamist, but from a desire to get him out of the country and baffle the men in Deadwood who wanted bis life. ‘‘Hyar wear’! Now for the Denver ssen- ger!” suddenl - exclaimed the driver, as he stopped the frisky teat, on a certain spot some distance out of Deadwood, and scrambled down from his lofty perch with uncommon agility. ‘‘[’'m on time, Timothy, so right this way fer Utah!” He was now among the busbes, and on the “‘comicbooks. ~~ i re\ee 4 4 t* | | |