Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 294 — page 24: what you’re looking at

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

24 Merciless to take it in any manner she sees fit.” The Mormon shut his hands and his eyes were seen to flash. “Then you’ve worked in vain, for by the stars in heaven! J’ll never die by her hand!” he hissed. He had passed into the night, leaving Broad- cloth Burt to face the human tigers whom he , had cowed. He held them all at bay and speechless with the deadly weapons in his hands, It was not the first time he had faced the same gang since sunset; he knew them, every one, from their new leader to the meanest ruffian in the lot, “Your man is gone,” he said. ‘‘Can’t you see that fate always interferes in his behalf? He is not for you, I tell you. As for me, Iam at your service whenever you wish to call me to account. Let me tell you another thing. Colonel Sandbanks, the prisoner of the pit under Monte Mark’s shanty, bas escaped.” . “The deuce he has!” ejaculated Colorado Clate. ' “Tt is a fact which investigation will con- firm,” was the quiet rejoinder. ‘‘I will now say good-night, gentlemen.” And the revolvers and their owner were withdrawn almost as suddenly as they had made their uppearance, Broadcloth Burt, with a gleam of triumph in his eyes, walked rapidly toward the shanties on the street, but in the center of the thoroughfare he came suddenly upon the apparition of a man. ‘*What! you here yet?’ he said, recognizing the man atonce. ‘‘ Why don’t you leave Dead- wood? I didn’t cut the lariat with my bullet for you to stay in the tiger’s den. Now make a yourself scarce.” ; “Not till l’ve paid the Deadwood devils for , their villainy !” was the hissed response, ‘' You have a revolver forme? Ah! yes! Now look out, ruffians! You've looped me twice. This is zy, a Mormon’s vengeance!” ts Broadcloth Burt’s right hand revolver was snatched from his grasp before be could restrain _ theinfuriated Mormon, and the next moment ' he saw bim rush headlong toward the Casino. “* Let the fool go!” be said. He saw Timothy Tenwives reach the door, ae which flew wide, as if to welcome him, and the next moment the mad Mormon was standing in the light, pouring the contents of the re- a into the startled crowd in front of the pe “ed CHAPTER XXX. AY THE DASH FOR DENVER. Gum “Tv seen fools before, bus that one yonder aa the climax,” smiled the man from Denver 7 P * >! . ed a> | =). as he turned away, leaving to himself the Mor- mon whom he had just rescued from the rope a of the infuriated Dead wooders. Fw. Timothy Tenwives was still in the light that tear streamed from the interior of the Full-Hand Casino, paying off old debts with the sport’s re- eee POR VER, - ee The first shot had not only startled, but it bad ____ killed, and the two following had had the same PY For at least once in his life the Mormon spi- ns 4 aN der, who had cringed and begged for life in the _ shadow of the nouse, now fought with the cour- ss age of the lion—faced his enemies when he : Nie age have escaped without touching a trigger. Ries vt must have known that he could not long =4e maintain the unequal combat, although be bad ~~ taken the toughs unawares, that they would “a soon rush out upon him, overwhelm him, and NS leave him a corpse in the streets of Deadwood. / ss But this did not daunt him. ‘‘ Tbey’ve tarred ss and feathered me; they have noosed me twice, ss but: by the creed of the Saints! they’ve got to —s- suffer for it,” passed through clinched teeth. he “It is Timothy Tenwives against Deadwood. "They have the most weapons, but I’ve got the drop on the delectable gang, and I’ll spot a few of them while I’m at it.” : As we have Said, Broadcloth Burt did not tarry to witness the outcome of the Mormon’s mad attack on the Deadwood toughs, but ss furned away and left bim in the midst of it. % orga ee of = fro _ pene mewnan from his gra y the spider, but he st sessed 44 another, and it in bis hands was capable-of do- ae ing bhoody work. A e crossed the street and disap d be- ss tween two cabins, walking rapidly like a man eager to reach a certain place within a given +) y > thme. ce , ive minutes later he halted in front of a x _- shanty—not Captain Paul's this time—and push- eet the door open, leaned inside. ba ost instantly he was joined by a young ss girl Who uttered a low exclamation of satisfac- tien as she recognized the man from ver. “TF am back,” he, said with asmile. ‘ For- tunately, I did not bave to kill any one, but I baffled the toughs all thesame. They had the le mon seraph on a whisky barrei with a rope 9% round bis neck, and I got there just in time to spoil a bangin’ matinee. When I teft him he was payin’ the crowd back for past offenses, but that game won't win. It’s all silent now, Alice, the firing bas ceared, aud I expeci there’s aaa Broadcloth Burt, the Denver Dandy. a dead Mormon in the street before the Full- Hand,” The -):adwood belle did not speak fora mo- ment, brs listened attentively as she gazed up into the +oort’s face. ‘‘We) ight as well be off,” shesaid. “ Every- thing '- so still down there,” ‘* T -on’t quite understand it, when the Dead- wood tougbs are mad as bornets, They are not toe men who keep quiet under such circum- stances as these. 1 told them that the pit be- neath Monte Mark’s cabin was empty.” ‘‘ Has Colonel Sandbanks really effected his escape?” ‘He isn’t there, at any rate, and he got out in good time to save his precious neck,” an- swered Broadcloth Burt, ‘‘ I would advise him to give Deadwood a wide birth. Paradise Paul is dead, you know, and the human tigers want him for the choking he administered. He must do just what we have to do now, Alice,” ‘* And that is—” “Look out for ourselves. turn our faces toward Denver— ‘‘Thank fortune!’ interrupted Alice, clutch- ing the sport’s arm, ‘‘That means that I am going to the patient one who has waited so long for me?’ **T dope so.” ‘Then I cannot leave Deadwood too soon!” Broadcloth Burt looked down into the joyful face upturned in the light of the stars, and read in its expression the joy that throbbed her heart. The next moment the pair were pushing rap- idly toward the southern suburbs of the town, the Denver sport at the girl’s side, with a re- volver clutched firmly in his right band, “For the sake of humanity don’t abandon me,” said a voice so near that Broadcloth Burt wheeled toward the speaker, and instantly cov- ered the object that met bis gaze. ‘*Come forward and show up!” he said in stern tones and the portly figure of a man ap- proached. ‘‘Colonel Sandbanks!” exclaimed the Den- verite. ‘‘That’s who] am,” was the response. ‘* That infernal pit is haunted, an’ I’ve got the rheuma- tism besides.” ‘* You’re in a bad fix, colonel.” “T should gently whisper that Lam. That place discounts the Black Hole, an’ I’d sooner en- dure a thousand deaths than stand it another hour. Ain’t you goin’ down the Denver trail?’ ‘What if l am?’ “Then I'll be your companion. I’m homeless now, for the Deadwood toughs burned the Setemup—set fire to it like cowards in the ab- sence of the proprietor. But I gota little re- venge for the deed. IL bad the satisfaction of burying my fingers behind their captain’s wind. i We are going to ” pe. Colonel Sandbanks’s eyes glittered with tri-. umph, and hesbut his hands convulsively as if they felt Paradise Paul’s throat once more. “So you want to go to Denver?” asked the sport quietly. “Tve got to get out ov this accursed town an’ go somewhar else,” was the response. ‘I’ve made the discovery that I’m not in a healthy climate just at the present time, an’ thet speedy immigration will improve my chances for a green old age. I can go ter Denver with you, can’t I, Broadcloth?” Before the Denver sport could answer, Alice stepped to his side and spoke for him. ‘* Yes, sir; you may share our fortunes,” she said kindly. Colonel ‘Sandbanks started at sound of ker voice Jike a person who suddenly hears a joy- ful call. ‘* It is the girl, by Jove!” he exclaimed under his breath. ‘‘ Now Lam goin’ to Denver or die! I didn’t get out of that rascally pit a moment too soon. I'll keep my eyes on the Deadwood rose from now till the time I play the gam> through to the close. She sha’n’t be sent to wait fur me under another tree.. I'll change my tac- tics. If I can’t set up a cold deck on that Den- ver sport between bere an the city, [ll stock thecardsthar. In luck ag’in, Simon Sandbanks! Fortune smiles on her chosen one.” He then thanked Alice for what she had said, and announced himself ready for the journey to Denver. | As for Broadcloth Burt, he said nothing, al- though it was evident that he did not relis the company he was taking on. ‘“ 'vemade'a few dullars in that blarsted town, but I willingly leave them behind.” said the roprietor of the Setemup as he waved @ part- ing good-by to Deadwood from among the southern suburbs. ‘* You’ve burned me out an’ I've choked your boss citizen, so I guess we’re about even. Den- ver’s a better town than ever Deadwood will be. I’ve linked my fortunes to those ov one ov Den- ver’s boss citizens, ther Honorable Broadcloth Burt, who is a reg’lar jim-dandy in more ways than one.” ‘Are you going to Denver, or have you made up your mind to stand thar an’ speak!” said a voice at the colonel’s elbow, and the band of the Denver sport fell beavily upon his shoulder. : me ee ae ee + oe ‘Excuse me, Broadcloth. I was just goin’ ter remark—” “Then stay whar you are and remark it,” was the interruption. ‘‘ We are going to Den- ver!” ‘* That’s just whar I’m bound for,” and Simon Sandbanks sprung forward. ‘‘ We've struck the Denver trail at last, haven’t we, my dear?’ The girl gave the speaker a look which tol! him that such familiarity was not reciproca), but it did not blunt the colonel’s indiscretion. ‘‘T]l strike it rich in Denver,” he went or. | “T ll rise to higher things thar than I attain: «| ’ in Deadwood, an’ one ov these days, Alice, you's! not be ashamed ov your friend, Simon Sand- banks.” Alice turned away, knowing that to humor the indiscreet Dead wooder by listening would only increase his volubility and her embarrass- ment, The trio had left Deadwood fairly behind, having struck the Deadwood-Denver trail, and were pushing rapidly toward a certain point which Broadcloth Burt seemed anxious to reach. All at once the Denver sport sprung from the trail, and disappeared, but only for a moment. When he reappeared he held the bridles of two borses, at sight of which Simon Sandbanks started, and let slip an ejaculation of disap- pointment. ‘*That doesn’t look much like goin’ to Den- ver,” he said. ‘*Two horses for three! The scheme seems to have been knocked out ov time already.” ‘‘Pve got only two horses, colonel, and they’re not used vo carrying double,” said Broadcloth Burt at this juncture. ‘‘The deuce they’re not!” cried the colonel. ‘*Thet leaves me at the mercy ov ther tigers ov Deadwood,” ‘* Not if you stir yourself.” ‘*Me?#—a man nearly down with the rheu- matics?” howled Sandbanks dolefully. ‘I never pny: oe you'd leave me unprotected, to perish at the hands of the demons who want my blood. Why didn’t you tell me you had but two animals here?’ “You never asked me to,” grinned the Den- verite, as be turned to help Alice into one of the saddles, Colonel Sandbanks suddenly grated his teeth and bounded toward the sport, with the lion in his noture aroused in an instant, ‘** You don’t went to play me false.” he hissod, clutching tbe sport’s shoulder. ‘*if'lam only Simon Sandbanks, I'm no baby who kin be do- serted with impunity. Look into my eyes, sir; thar’s fire thar! Don’t intimate to me, sir, that IT am to be abandoned at this stage ov the game, or by heavens, sir, P'M—!"!!]—” “You'll do what? speak it out!” and the hand of Broadcloth Burt closed on the land- lord’s arm, and with an iron grip almost Jifted him off his feet. “Look here, old fellow! when you threaten me, you threaten Broadcloth Burt. We are going to Denver’ you stay here!” That was all. Simon Sandbanks felt his arm suddenly re- leased and be found himself alone on the trail with the night around bi:n. “T'll pay bim back for it!” he hissed. ‘Tl do it if it costs Simon Sandbanks his life!” CHAPTER XXXII. REVOLVER ELOQUENCE, For several minutes the colonel stood like a men bewildered on the Denver trail; he had been deserted, left to bis fate so suddenly that amazement had taken possession of him. ; The hoof-beats of the horses ridden by the Denverite and Alice faded in the distance, tell- ing him, ere the last echo died away, that they were actually riding toward Denver while be had lost the prize on which he had set bis heart and was moreover within reach of the toughs of Deadwood. Added to his fear of capture, was the fact that he was totally unarmed, and this was not liable to ull the colonel into security, ‘“Won’'t I get even with you for this desertion, Broadcloth Burt?’ be blurted, shaking his fist in the direction taken by the couple. “You will discover that I’m no infant ter be insulted with impunity. I’m Simon Sard- banks, who dared ther dangers oy ther gold- fields in °49, and ef I hev been keepin’ hotel for twenty years, haven’t forgotten how to avenge an insult. The girl was willin’ ter take me along, but you wouldn’t do if, Broadcloth; therefore, you’ve got ter take the conse quences. The doughty colonel was in & passion; bis eyes flashed as he spoke, and be would heve dealt severely with the Denverite if he bad bad bim in bis power at that moment. But threats and curses could not mend mat- ters, and Simon Sandbanks W8S compelled to rest his tongue. He turned and looked toward Dead wood. “I can’t go on unarmed,” be said, an’ bw stage will accommodate Me by coming along. I've got to get defensive vote naitomewbar, f I expect to remain any time 1D this country. He was still g zing toward « >? * , é ” ’ vee t , Jd Deadwood when