Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 294 — page 23: what you’re looking at

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

—--_-———r i ec Broadcloth Burt, the Denver Dandy. the reply of the horrified Mormon, for the man so suddenly surprised by Colorado was our old acquaintance from Salt Lake City, and not the man from Denver. | ‘‘ A man who won’t take the hints you’ve had must be a born fool,” continued the Deadwood- er, ‘‘ Thar ain’t a safe spot for you within ther limits ov this town, an,’ yet’ you will come back,” **T am here to harm no one,” ‘Oh no; you wouldn’t blast anybody’s repu- tation, my meek gazelle,” sneered Colorado. ‘All your thoughts are for the happiness ov mankind, Asone ov ther Mountain Meadows angels, Deadwood loves ye, an’ ef ye stay hyer they’ll give ye an ovation. No! yon don’t wan't ter drag ther angel ov this town to yer slave-pen in Utah! Oh, no; you wouldn’t make my ward nine 7d r ‘‘ Your ward?” echoed the Mormon spider. ‘* You are not Cap’n Paul?” ‘Not quite. Cap’n Paul is dead an’ his pro- perty has descended to me.” 4 Dead ¥ “Dead ezasmelt. Killed!—choked ter death by the same merciless woman who will one day git away with you.” “My God! Is that she devil at large again?” ** She visited Deadwood to-night anyhow.” A terrified look filled the Mormon’s eyes. “The next time I strike I'll make sure work of her!” he grated, clinching his hands. “Where is she now?” “T can’t answer that question, I only know thet when she went from ther cap’n’s cabin ther cap’n war dead! She doesn’t like you any more than she did Cap’n Paul, I b’lieve.” ‘‘Great heavens! I should sa I didn’t come back to Deadwo her.” ‘“T suspect not. Warn’t you on ther road ter Salt Lake City when you got it inter yer head ter come back? Vag. ‘ Why didn’t you go on?” Timothy Tenwives looked into the eyes of the stern-faced Deadwooder and was silent. ‘‘You needn’t answer me,” said Colorado. ‘‘ You baven’t given up the ger ‘“Tf Paradise Paul is dead, an’ I can win her by fair means, who will object?” be asked, his countenance suddenly brightening. ‘““] will, with all Deadwood at my back!” was the quick response. ‘‘You came hyar ter run Alice off in ther teeth ov ther thirty toughs. ou ar’afool ef you think thet, ther cap’n’s death gives youa right ter ther girl. But I’m goin’ ter be clever toward ye, Timothy. I’m goin’ ter preserve ye forever from ther wiles of Maud, the Merciless; but in ther first place answer me three ques- tions.” ‘Il do it!” cried the Mormon eagerly. “In ther first place, when did you reach Deadwood?” “ About ten minutes before you halted me.” “Did you come in over the Denver trail?” “Yes.” And met nobody?” “ Not a soul!” Colorado Clate looked puzzled, but took care not to reveal his thoughts to the Mormon tle. ocee my replies satisfactory?’ asked the wife-bunter. ' : ‘Yes. Now I will keep my word. I will gave you forever from tber clutches of Merci- less Maud. Come back inter town with me. It is yer only hope. She hez got even with Para- dise Paul, an’ if we don’t interfere now, she'll get her work inon you. You don’t want ter die, Timothy?” ‘Not by any means, and of course not by the hands of that infernal woman.” ‘You want ter go back ter Utah an’ die in ther arms of yer lovin’ family, don’t yer?” inned the tough. ee That’s my desire,” said the hypocrite, : ‘< Ther end ov ther good man is peace an’ that’s what yer end ought ter be,” continued Colorado. “T don’t b’lieve one-half ther slanderous tales they’ve started on ye. I don’t b’lieve thet war ther cause ov Maud leavin’ Paul, ber hus- band, fer a man ov honor like yerself would never do anything mean ter get a wife! Thet’s why we're goin’ ter save you forever from ther she doesn’t. to encounter LL eee — Ir ee 2 Timothy Tenwives halted before the lighted oe of the Full-Hand and involuntarily drew ack. ‘No danger in thar, old fellow!” and Colora- do’s hand fell upon bis shoulder. ‘* Walk right in. We'll find ther Casino empty at this hour, an’ thar I'll divulge ther plan fer yer salva- tion.’ He pushed the Mormon forward and a mo- ment later the two entered the place. As they did so a motley crowd of dark-faced men at the counter started back with looks, oaths, and exclamations of recognition! ‘““My God!” cried the Mormon recoiling. ‘‘Am I in a trap? You said the Casino was empty. These are not the men who want to save me from the clutches of my Mormon wife, He fled toward the door, but the sallow hand of Colorado Clate darted madly after him and clutched him by the collar. ‘*Thar’s just whar tn fool yerself, Mormon spider!” he cried, as he dragged the terror- stricken polygamist back and held him up to the gaze of all. ‘‘These ar’ ther very pards who ar’ eager ter save ye from ther hands ov ther Blushin’ Daisy ov ther Mountain Top! Stand up an’ look ’em in ther face, an’ don’t wilt like a dish-rag. Let me whisper in yer ear ther plan I propose. Thar’s only one way fer us tersave ye from thet woman, an’ thet’s ter hang yer ourselves !” At this a boisterous laugh parted the lips of the Deadwood toughs, and Timothy Tenwives, the Salt Lake City villain, gasped despairingly as hls brain whirled, and his limbs gave way beneath him, It was true that he was to be saved from the hands of Maud, the Merciless; but in such a horrible manner! CHAPTER XXIX. MORMON MADNESS. ‘*WeLL, if I havn’t trooped back into the tiger’s lair, I don’t know anything, I’ve fallen among thieves for a fact. Heaven keep me now if ’m worth helpin’; but I fear that it’s all up with T. Tenwives.” Thus spoke the rascally Mormon as bope van- ished, and he found himself in the clutches of Colorado Clate who, with his friends, was en- joying the wife-hunter’s fright. Fear had whitened the Mormon’s face, as well it might, for he wasina most unpleasant pre- dicament, and one that threatened to result very disastrously within a few minutes, They were going to preserve him from Mer- ciless Maud’s vengeance by hanging bim. The thought made his very blood run cold. “You wouldn’t do that, would you?” he made out to gasp looking up into Colorado’s face. ‘Why not, old wite sharp?’ was the derisive retort. ‘‘ You want ter escape that tigress’s claws, don’t yer?’ ‘Yes, but—” ** Wal, ther’s no other chance fer yer. You cpg nter take ter ther noose with a chuckle, thinkin’ how you'll cheat her slick an’ clean. She may be prowlin’ through Deadwood some- where, for ez I told yer she finished Paradise Paul’s career not two hours ago; tharfore we'll erk je off hyar. Tossarope over that cross- am, boys, an’ kick a whisky bar’! under it.” The Mormon’s late experience with those same men on the Denver trail was enough to chill the marrow in his bones when he thought of it. He looked appealingly at the bard crowd, but a glance told him that he might as well turn to statues for belp. ' He knew that the toughs of Deadwood hated a Mormon above all living things, and as he, one of that people, had invaded their town for the purpose of robbing it of a beautiful young woman, he could not think why they should re- spect him. The Deadwooders were eager to obey Col- orado Clate’s commands. In less than two minutes the lariat dangled from the heavy beam that reached from one side of the Casino to the other, and heavy cow- hide boots had patped to place an empty whisky barrel in position beneath it. “T’ve agreed ter furnish ther subject an’ hyar he is—a regular Mormon!” cried Colorado, for- cing the terrified wife-hunter toward the im- | 23 — lodge ov sorrow an’ driw uP resolutions ov re- spect fer ther decessed. Thetll make ther widders’ hearts leap fer joy. Hyar he is, Tiger Tom! Git a good grip on ther old groundberry an’ pull ’im up!” The man on the barrel clutched Timothy’s collar, which was made of good stuff, and with Colorado’s assistance landed him on the oval scaffold, scarcely large enough to sustain the two. The human circle now contracted until the barrel occupied a very small common center, and the Mormon spider could look down into the merciless eyes and swarthy faces of the Deadwood toughs, Almost before he could resist, the noose of the lariat was thrown over his head and drawn taut under his chin. ‘““Thar, old varmint! I wish yer a swift journey ter Mormon paradise!” exclaimed Tiger om, as be sprung from the barrel, leaving Timothy Tenwives the only occupant of the head, ‘* Think ov ther wives about ter be lef’ desolate, think ov ther little ones bereft ov a father’s keer, an’ then—choke!” This was greeted with an outburst of coarse laughter, which ended suddenly as the Mormon threw one hand up and clutched the rope abovo his héad, It was a desperate man’s last grasp for life. ‘‘ Hands down!” sternly thundered Colorado, as he strode forward with two revolvers aimed at the Mormon’s head. ‘‘ Hands down, I say, cr I'll send yer home with a brainless head! You don’t want ter go in thet manner do yer, Tim- othy?”’ ‘“Merey—no!” and the hand fell at the Mor- mon’s side. - Colorado had halted within two feet of the barrel. ‘‘Get ready!” be continued, still addressing the man on the barrel. ‘‘ I’m goin’ ter kick the bar’l from under ye in about oneminute. When Mand finds yer, yell be beyond ber vengeance, an’ ye’ll owe it all ter us, too.” Timothy Tenwives said nothing, but shut his teeth hard and threw a stolid look dewn into Colorado’s face, He would plead no. more, for, knowing that mercy was out of the question, he bad resolved in an instant, as it were, to die game. ‘‘Count five for me, Tiger,” said Colorado glancing at Tiger Tom as be got read y to send the barrel from under the Mormon elder by a vigorous kick. ‘‘ Count kinder fast, fer the old galoot’s resigned to his fate an’ [’m dry.” ‘‘ All right!” said the tough addressed, and he instantly began. ‘‘ One!—two!—” “ Hold a moment!” interrupted the Mormon. ‘““ Wal?’ ‘Tell Alice—” ‘‘ No! you sha’n’t insult her with a message ov Mormon love!” grated Colorado Clate throwing up bis hand, ‘Go on with ther count, Tiger!” Timothy Tenwives succumbed. ‘‘Three!—four!—” . Just then theadoor was kicked open by some one on the outside, and a loud voice rung through the Casino, “T’]} finish the count, Deadwood bruisers!” ‘‘Great Jehosaphat! Broadcloth Burt!” ejaculated twenty dark faced men as_ their bands reached for their ready revolvers. They were answered by the crack of a revol- ver, and the rope, severed completely about two feet above the Mormon’s head, dropped on his shoulders. ‘*T believe in the eternal justness of things,” continued the man at the door who held two re- volvers in his outstretched hands. ‘‘ You have no right to hang that man. He belongs to one who has sworn to avenge her wrongs, way for him, or I’]) make it myself.” The Deadwood toughs could stare at the speaker, but they dared not lift a hand inst him. His revolvers bad suddenly drop tos level with their heads, and his feat of shooting off the rope told them what was in store for them if they showed any stubbornness, Calm and erect and straight as an arrow, stood the enverite in the doorway. Once before he had saved the Mormon spider from their lariat; now he was doing it again, It could not be that they were friends, ‘‘No: Broadcloth Burt was savivg him for - - oo » ” . clutches ov thet mistaken woman. Mebbe we'll | provised gallows. * We've had every kind ov | the sworn blow. as es hold a meetin’ an’ give you Alice without any | fuo in ther Casino ’ceptin’ a hangin’, an’ if ther The men who still surrounded the occupant of oy further trouble. She's got no pertector now, | present subject ain’t a gentleman, he’s got a | the barrel understood the meaning of the aa ou see, an’ you can give her a good home in | neck like one. dandy’s last sentence. ae: alt Lake City.” Resistance on the Mormon’s part was useless;| [f they made no lane for the Mormon’s es- Ss ‘4 home in which her every wish shall be | he was forced forward by the Deadwood giant | cape, the man from Denver would make one gratified!” exclaimed the Mormon, catching at | and brought up standing before the barrel. with his revolvers!” e a straw, and not shrewd enough to notice the The crowd bad already formed a ring, with ‘* Let ther Mormon viper crawl away, boys,” On deep vein of sarcasm that pervaded Colorado’s | the barrel in the center, and one of their num- | said Colorado, in a whisper. ‘‘ We'll get on om tones. ber now leaped upon the platform and reached | ther fashion-plate’s track an’ treat him tera — “always thought so, though I didn’t let on,” | down for the prisoner as he was brought up. lead-mine.” ed eid said the Deadwooder. ‘Merciless Maud hez| ‘‘ For Heaven’s sake, gentlemen, don’t rob my | |The crowd separated, and takingadvantage of = = killed enough; she'll never wipe you out, | children of a kind, indulgent father,” said the | the unexpected help, Timothy Tenwives sprung __ Pas Timothy.” Mormon, resolved on making one last appeal | from the barrel, and rushed toward the door. + pes ‘Thanks for your assurance,” cried the Mor-| for mercy. ‘‘ Think of the hearts that will suf- “Ill make this square some day,” he said, ~~ mon. ‘One ov these days { will remember ‘er, of the women left husbandless.” glancing up into the Denverite’s face ashe pass- Deadwood for its timely help.” ‘Oh, come, Timothy!” roared Colorado, | ed under the leveled revolvers and crossed the = “You will? Thet’s good! Buthyer we ar’ at | ‘‘ We’re doin’ nine Mormon wives a favor to- | threshold of the den. ne LS a ther Casino, You'll take three fingers ov rats- | night, an’ Deadwood a world ov . Arter| ‘No thanks,” was the answer. ‘‘ Make your. a ss bane with me, ther hangin’, we'll resolve ourselves inter a self scarce. I’vesaved yourlifefor Maud tho ~— Ns ade | % \ eed GomiC¢gdooKs,.com tra