Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 294 — page 5: what you’re looking at

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

a Broadcloth Burt, the Denver Dandy. _——- - ——- ——— -- al ———— ane young creature who shares his cabin. I will not let beauty nor innocence stand in my way. I will not dream of mercy till my vengeance is complete, Merciless Maud I shall be to the end, and the game Iam to play in Deadwood and elsewhere shall be remembered by men iong after I have found the grave where happi- ness is never wrecked. I will keep my oath!’ Bowie Bluff seemed to hold his breath while the woman before him appealed for the justuess of ber cause to the unseen power. ‘‘ Ah, Bowie Bluff! there wild come an hour of rest for me!’ she cried, as sbe turned upon him. ‘'Tbe leader of the Deadwood toughs first, an’ then back to the nest of the Salt Lake serpent.” The listener smiled. ‘“We won't bev ter go back, Maud,” he said. ‘Why not?” ‘‘ Because he’s hyar now.” ‘‘Who is here?” ‘‘ The other one—the old ruinator from Brig- iham’s capital.” The hand of Merciless Maud fell on the sleeve of Bowie Bluff, ‘*In Deadwood?” she cried, wives here ?” “Hyer in the flesh,” assured the. Bad Man from Llron-Grip. A moment of intense stillness followed the reply. ‘*Ah! I see,” the Mormon wife exclaimed. “‘One wants to take the Deadwood Angel to Salt Lake, the other to keep her here, e’ll baffle them both, Bowie Bluff; an’ the man who steps between me an’ vengeance dies in bis tracks!’ ‘‘ Timothy Ten- CHAPTER V. JUST TOO LATE. EVERYTHING pointed to a lively time in Deadweod before another sunrise. For more than a week, strange to say, noth- ing of a very exciting nature had happened to disturb the equanimity of the place; the little cemetery in the suburbs had received no addi- tions to its silent population, and affairs were drifting alongio a very humdrum manner. But now, with the actors in a wild drama ready to play their parts in Deadwood, the cur- tain threatened to rise on a tragedy in several bloody acts. The Mormon Exile was evidently a deeply- wronged woman, who, in order tocarry out ber revenge would not hesitate to stoop to any act, even if it should afflict the innocent, Merciless Maud wasa character well known in different parts of the new Northwest and along the Mormon border, Some men looked upon her as a crank, but those who would listen to the story of pepe 3 which she sometimes told always heard enou to convince them that sbe had suffered at the hands of two men—Paradise Paul, and Timothy ‘Tenwives, the Mormon elder, And now this woman bad come to Deadwood svith a deep laid scheme of revenge fully planned in her heart. : She bad expected to find Paradise Paul there, Dut fortune or fate—call it what you. will, reader—had brought her face to face with the mee she hated most, the wife-bunter from Salt ake, We know what Paradise Paul said when be saw Merciless Maud in the stage which had brought ber from Rockerville, a mining-camp a few miles southeast of Deadwood, ‘*She hyar, too?’ was his exclamation. “* What will the end be now?” In an instant, as it were, he seemed to realize Lena dangerous woman had come to Dead- wood. : While he was planning how to defend Alice, bis ward, against the machinations of Timothy Tenwives, it was singular that there should ap- r upon the scene one whom he had a right o dread. He knew Merciless Maud at sight; perha she had sent him a message that she would gome some day, and ber coming meant re- venge, With his head filled with thoughts of that woman, he left Alice with a command to retire within the house, and under no pretext show berself at the door again that night. He walked not toward the Setemup where Merciless Maud was exhibiting Broadcloth Burt to the Deadwood tonughs, but to the Full- Hand Casino where he sampled some of the best liquor to be obtained in the place. ‘‘T didn’t come back from Denver a minute too soon,” he said to himself. “Dye got to come out on top in this game ov life an’ death, er lose Alice an’ everything else, [I] wait fer the boys hyar an’ then we'll open the campaign. In the first place, that Mormon snake hez got ter leave Deadwood. What Broadcloth Burt said to im scared ’im only to his room; but what we’ve got ter say shall start him on ther road to Salt Lake, er hell! He kin take bis choice.” ) Tbe hour was early, but a little while after sunset, and the Casino had not begun to fill up with its usual freqnartert | Paradise Paul left the bar and went over to ‘the darkest corner where he threw himself up- on arough benchand leaned his elbow on the | which they expected to drag the Mormon apos- table in front of it. tle who had committed the unpardonable sin of ‘‘Suthin’ struck Paradise hard to-night,” | invading Deadwood in search of a wife. remarked the bartender to a customer who They reached the bouse, and Paradiss Paul was casting wistful glances at the bottles be- | stationed several men in front of it so as to cut hind the counter. off Timothy Tenwives’s retreat irom the win- **Mebbe he saw thet woman ov his.” | dow: then, at the head of a dozen more, he ** Not the wife he bed once?” | stalked into the reception-room like a lion en- ‘*] should pertend ter announce!” asserted | raged, and confronted Colonel Sandbanks, who the disconsolate tough, ‘‘ Wal, back she is, bent | was found in the chair bebind his desk. on playin’ holy thunder afore she goes elsewhar. ** We ar’ hyer on a bit 0’ bizness, kernal,” said Calls berself the Blushin’ Daisy ov ther Mount- | Paradise Paul as the proprietor of the Setemup ain Top, er sutbin’ to thet effect. R’ile her, an’ | rose and stared at the rough array that greeted she’d be a whole bokay.” his eyes, ‘* We want thet distinguished spider Motionless, in the corner he had chosen, sat | from Salt Lake.” Paradise Paul, seemingly oblivious of his sur- Colonel Sandbanks seemed to take in the roundings. situation at a glaice, His dark chin rested in the hollows of his His somewhat varied experience with man- bronzed hands, and his fingers were buried in | kind told him that it would not do to parley his long black locks. with his callers; therefore, he waved his hand All at once there came to his ears a sound | toward the stair door on bis right and said: that roused him, and he looked up toseethe | ‘I think he has retired, gentlemen; but as door of the Casino swing open, and in trooped a | you seem determined to see bim you might as- crowd of Deadwood tougbs, laughing boister- certain the facts by a personal inspection and ously at something that pleased them, | thus—” ‘** Has Paradise been hyer?” exclaimed a dozen, Paradise Paul did not wait for the prolix as they caught the bartender’s eye. Sandbanks to conclude, but strode toward the The captain of the Deadwood men answered | door and Binging it open, bounded up the steps. for himself by rising and leaving the table, There were a dozén men and as many bowies “We ar’ hyer fer duty, Paradise. Tbet Mor- mon skunk still cusses Deadwood with his pres- ence. He will not go unless we ship bim. We're jast sp’ilin’ fer some fun, ov ther natur’ we hed last summer when he war byer afore. Let’s and revolvers at his heels. Three bounds took the captain of the toughs to the room above, and as he threw himself against. the door and burst it open, his stern voice was heard: ———- — noose him this time, an’ hang him up ez an ex- ‘‘Hyar we ar’ agin, Timothy! A man who ample ter all Mormons from Brigham’s claim. | comes back to Deadwood artef once bein’ Say the word, Paradise! We.kin lay bands on | driven out comes back ter pass in bis chi the woman-bunter in five minutes.” A flash lit up the eyes of Paradise Paul. ‘*T have sworn thet he shall leave Deadwood to-night!” he said, resolutely, ‘‘ We don’t want such truck hyer. This time it shall be worse ner tar an’ feathers. We'll make ten women widders at one fell swoop!” A cheer of exultation went upward from the throats of the toughs. The next instant Paradise Paul was on the ‘Allright, Paradise! But you did misssome | floor and his eager hand was exploring the dark fun down at the Setemup., Thet woman oy yers | space beneath the bed in a vain search for the hez struck the diggin’s ag’in, an’ the way she | much-wanted Mormon. : | ; did exbibit thet kid-gloved dandy to our crowd | Vain, we say, fora minute later the Dead- would hey made a weepin’ willer laugh! Durn | wood giant sprung erect, and with an cath an- ef it warn’t a pictur’, Paradise! Gotaway with | nounced to the mad crowd that the bird bad old Broadcloth bad, though be pretended to en- | flown. | joy it. She don’t look much like she used. ter—| Then ensued a bedlam of, curses and violent kind o’ faded like; but thar’s a devil in them | expressions of rage. : black eyes ov hers, an’ she’s now the Blushin’ he toughs, not content with their leader's Daisy ov ther Mountain Top.” announcement, searched every part of the Paradise Paul seemed to grate his teeth while | chamber. oat the tough spoke of the woman who had once They poked their weapons into every con- been bis wife. ceivable space, and stripped the bed of its cov- ‘We'll go for thet Mormon elder first,”.be | erings in their eager bunt for the Mormon said, ‘‘ en we hev made an example ov | elder. him, thar may be others thet’ll need atten- But he was not there. . tion.” | | ** He hain’t got far!” cried Paradise Paul, and His emphasis was pronounced, and seemed to | down the stairs he went to burst like a thunder- give him a savage delight. .| bolt into the room below. se The crowd which had entered the Casino consisted of thirty men who were the despera- does of Deadwood. Without a single exception, they were harden- ed characters who had been attracted to the gold region, not because the precious metal was to be bad for the mining, but for the rich pick- ings to be found at the gambling resorts, and the excitements attendant upon an existence where men carried their hearts on their sleeves and revolvers in their hands, ) As naturally as water flows down-hill, Para- dise Paul had drifted into the acknowledged leadership of these men, each one of whom loved a ee affray better than anything else on earth, It was a companionship which not even the remonstrances of the gentle Alice could break; for once the captain of the Deadwood tougbhs, always at their head, This seemed to be.a law as unalterable as the decrees of the Medes and Persians, ‘‘Now fer the Salt Lake leper, pards!” cried Paradise Paul, as he threw himself before the and stalked toward the door of the “We'll find bim at the Setemup, ‘“‘Tremblin’ fer his hide under one ov the kernul’s beds!” laughed the men, and the whole crowd left the den, and took up their line of march for the hotel. Woe to the Mormon elder if the men of Dead- wood were permitted to lay their dark hands upon him. He would never get to return to the bosom of the delectable family he had left in Mormon- dom, and his Deadwood wife-hunt wonld prove his last venture of the kind, | | There were several lariats in the crowd, for snticipaling | Aredia Paul’s acquiescence in their proposals, the toughs bad prepared themselves, ‘“No noise, pards,” enjoined Paul, ‘ We'll kinder steal a march on the old badger. Colonel Sandbanks won’t kick, fer he’ll be glad ter git rid ov ther guest be doesn’t like ter turn off. This time we mean stern bizness. To-morrer the buzzards kin gor themselves on Mormon pie, ef they hey a hankerin’ after the dose,” wiftly and as silently as swooping eagles, the yengeful band. Come for’ard, Mormon rattler, an’ take yer medicine like a man!” The interior of the apartment was not entire- ly dark; the scanty furniture was visible, but the well-known and badly wanted figure of Timotby Tenwives was conspicuous by its ab- sence, ‘*He’s under the bed, Paul.” off!” he said as he caught sight of Colonel banks, sé Gone?” * Vamosed.” _T ll give him bis bill if he'll stay away.” “ He’ T do thet, you bet, kernal, fer we’re goin’ ter help im!” Away went Paradise Paul with the swearing toughs at his-heels. One mad cry swelled upon the air. ‘Hang the Mormon galoot!” a lt gained strength and impetuosity as it sounded throughout Deadwood. ] fer Timothy Tenwives bad not more than twenty minutes’ start. tree! CHAPTER VI. TREATED TO A LARIAT. | SMOOTH the hair of a tiger the wrong way and he will show his teeth. It was thus with the toughs of Deadwood. ga Casino, eh?” appearing on the ground where he had been forbidden on pain of death to set his foot. his ward, bad drawn the wife-hunter from Mormondom to the Black Hills, and he had should not succeed. “ He'll give Alice up when we get the lariat round his neck!” be exclaimed as he led the ang of roughs after the Mormon. ‘‘ Death to he Salt Lake serpent! That's the motto, pards he’s left behind!” | The wild excitement continued to increase The toughs were determined that the schem- ing Mormon should never go back to his own country to scbeme anew for the possession of oe young girl who had inflamed bis baser pas- sions. “Twenty minutes’ start ain’t much fer a ga- loot what’s got ter trust Ps a mule,” said Para- dise Paul to his discomfited crowd. ‘ a roached the hotel from ‘ in a jiffy!” (E nicboo , % S) The buman hounds wete sure to overtake him, and then an oath, 4 noose, and the nearest Paradise Paul knew that the beauty of Alice, | We'll twist bis neck an’ widow the bull harem t ‘“‘Hang me ef the old eel hezn't wiggled 2 : Timothy Tenwives had angered them-by re- sworn a terrible oath that the old schemer _ ey take to the bosses, an’ run the old hound aan 2 hee =a tia & ~ a os - ae ie =.