Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 294 — page 6: what you’re looking at

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

6 There was arush for the few horses corraled among the suburbs of Deadwood, but Paradise Paul turned toward his own cabin, ‘Til tell Alice thet I’m goin’ off fer a spell,” he explained. ‘‘I won’t be gone long, ov course, but while I am away she must keep in- side.” He was not long in reaching the cabin, and a moment later be uttered an exclamation of sur- prise, for he stood ina little room of which he | the whole set drew rein. “That in- | abead,” was the only occupant. “I’m too late!” fell from bis lips, fernal Mormon has taken Alice!” A loud cheer which attested the spirit of the bard crowd greeted the giant’s words, and the whole gang galloped off, led by Paradise Paul, who burned to lay hands on the representative of Mormonism. It was night, of course, but not dark, for myriads of stars lit up the expanse of heaven, and the Deadwood toughs could distinctly see the trail over which they rode, “ Halt!” suddenly said Paradise Paul, and **T beard a hoss They were five miles from Deadwood and well If Timothy Tenwives had visited the giant’s among the bills, Haa they overtaken the Mormon elder and | as his breath lasted. cabin be had also accomplished his purpose. The house was empty; Alice was gone! The little tin lamp that burned on the table revealed the interior of the cabin, and suddenly snatching it up be wentupa ladder that led to an opening overhead, as if he expected to find the lost girl there. ‘*Gone an’ no mistake!” he growled, rage al- most blistering bis eyes as be came down again, **Now, won’t thar be the old Harry to pay when we catch thet Mormon Satan? Got the child at last, hezn’t he? But we’ll foller him ter Salt Lake City, but what we git her back. Fer thet girl I’m willin’ ter cat my way through ail the Mormons thar. You'll pay fer this steal, Timothy! By Heaven! Ill throw a gleam ov daylight through yer bead a long distance this side yer roman Te He rushed madly from the house, leaving the Uabs on the table, but he had not proceeded ten steps ere he stopped and then recoiled from a figure that had confronted him, At the same moment his bronzed hand shot toward the hilt of his bowie. ‘“So you hayven’t found the Mormon?’ said the person confronted by the giant. “Wal, no, but we’li get thar.” ‘** Not to-night, mebbe.” “Before daylight, by the eternal!” grated Paradise Paul. ‘‘ Look hyar, Broadcloth Burt, 1 don’t know what brought you up from Den- ver, an’ just now I don’t care. Take a squint in thar,” and stepping back suddenly, the aker threw open the cabin door. ‘* Thet shanty war inhabited by the belle ov Dakota an hour ago: now whar is she?” Barn ise Paul turned upon the Denverite as if be would force from him a satisfactory reply “‘T see she isn’t bere now,” said tbe dandy calmly. ‘‘ Mebbe she’s gone visiting.” **Gone—thunder!” roared the giant. ‘She would be thar now ef it warn’t fer one mean skunk. Iam satistied thet whar Timothy Ten- wives is at this minute, thar is Alice, hat is she tome? A gooddeal, Mr. Denverite, Thar’s no blood ov mine in her veins, but she’s dear to me all the same. Don’t you know that those Mormons hev no conscience? That monster what came hyar yesterday after Alice droye her mother mad years ABO, an’ now he wants the daughter. I never told Alice this because I never had the heart to. He bas got her at last. In spite oy all my watchin’ over her, I've been tricked by a cold deck in the hands ov thet Mormon skunk,” “T regret your loss, but men like Timothy have to be watched.” ** Watched? more than that! They’ve got to | be killed,” grated Paradise Paul. ‘Cold lead is the only remedy for this Mormon leprosy. Alice in the hands of that fiend? It boils my - blood! But the boysar’ waitin’ fer me at the cor- ral. They’ve got the hosses ready for the bunt. We won't bring him back, Broadcloth; but we’ll leave him whar we find him, You wouldn’t like to go along, Denver?” **T believe I will.” ** Come on then.” -. When Paradise Paul turned to rejoin his rds, he was accompanied by the elegant man rom Denver. , There was a flash of eagerness in the dandy’s eyes, and he soon seemed o anxious to reach horses as the Deadwood giant. | “ Worse an’ more ov it, boys!” grated Para- dise Paul, appearing suddenly to thecrowd who had the horses ready for the chase. ‘“‘ The nest ar empty when I got thar. The Mormon cleaned it out an’ left,” ‘“ An’ we've made a diskivery, Paradise,” wt ros pnesor “The old fellar left his mule ** An’ took two good hosses?” “Two good ’uns.” Paradise Paul shut his swarthy hands and swore, ** Hyar’s a pard what wants ter jine in the hunt,” he said, waving his hand toward Broad- cloth Burt. ‘‘He didn’t come hyar ter hunt humanity, but ez I told him in the stage that shootin’ war pretty fair round about Deadwood, I'd like ter prove it. Denver av’ Deadwood ar pores, avy how, so an extra hoss fer Broadcloth In Jess than three minutes an extra horse was ready for the Denverite, and when mounted, he popoied a striking contrast to the rough men y whom he was surrounded, “* We'll catch ’em on ther Denver trail,” said aradise Paul, ‘ Come, my Mormon-lovers! hev sworn thet an elder’s neck shall be broken before mornin’!” ' | | - CLL ALLA LS lll titi. citi, til, ta bis captive so soon? ‘* We've come up with sutbin’,”continued Paul as he slid from the saddle and cocked his revol- ver. “If it should be Timothy Tenwives, the stars above us shall see him swing.” Paradise Paul crept forward, leaving bis paras in tho trail where they bad halted, and five mintites later all heard his hail: ‘*T’ve caught the boss thief, boys!” There was a rush for the spot, each one eager to be first, for Paul’s voice had told all that he ‘had come up with the Saint. ‘“Hyar’s yer delectable sinner,” exclaimed the Deadwood giant, as he held out at arm’s- length to his followers the well-known person of Timothy Tenwives. “I caught the old cat nappin’ an’ stole one ov ther cutest marches on ‘im you ever saw. Uncoil thet lariat at m saddle. Thar’s a handy tree byar, an’ we'll widder the Salt Lake harem in Jess than ten minutes,” In an instant the man thus captered stood within a circle of cocked revolvers, He looked frightened and his cheeks were quite pale. Paradise Paul had, indeed, stolen a march upon him, for confident that he was far i Nf from ote gee to bial a aM pay ‘ay mounted and was sieeping, prop against a bowlder at the edge of hie tral: sii The capture had been attended with no dan- er, for the Deadwood giant had crept upon the sleeper, clapped a revolver against his face and wakened bim with an exultant oath. *“ No beggin’, no blubberin’!” warned Para- dise Paul, sternly, to the Mormon. ‘* You came back hyar ag’in’ orders. It war death fer ye to show yer face ag’in in Deadwood. Timo- thy Tenwives, we ar’ the court an’ the law. Thet mule ov yers warn’t fast enough, so ye bed ter steal a hoss. Thet’s death io this kentry. But whar’s yer other prize?” The Mormon gave the speaker a quick, inquisi- tive glance. ‘‘ No innocence game byar,” hissed Paradise, ‘*'W bar is Alice?” ““T don’t know,” A dérisive laugh from the whole crowd greet- ed this reply. ‘* A liar to the last,” said Paul, ‘We mean bizness. Think ov goin’ from Dakota to ther Judgment Bar ov heaven! You took the girl.” **T left ber in Dead wood for all I know,” was the reply. “If 1 had taken her would I haye been caught here asleep?’ ““But you took two hosses?”’ “That anima! yonder is the only one of which I robbed Deadwood to-night, and I left one in its place.” ‘** A durned old mule! But you say that you didn’t abduct Alice?” U P went the Mormon’s hands, ““T swear it!” be said, solemnly. “I was fleeing alone and for my own life, I never touched that beautiful young woman. Para- dise Paul, I never crossed the threshold of your cabin, I was on my way back to Utah alone when you surprised me.” Paradise Paul was silent for a moment. “Strike a match!” he suddenly exclaimed, ‘* Hold it up to the old sinner’s face, an’ Pll tell ye in a second ef he’s lyin’!” Several lucifers snapped at once, and one of the gang collected them and handed the blazing bunch to Paul. | Stepping forward, He held the light close to the Mormon’s face for several minutes, and looked into his eyes. Timothy Tenwives stood the scrutiny well, al- though he plainly showed the fear of death that had taken possession of him, and tried to con- firm bis asseverations by his look, ‘“*He’s a liar from the ground up!” suddenly cried Paradise Paul. ‘“*A Mormon will swear ter any thing fer life an’ a wife. Noose him, Dick! We'll get another tune from the Salt Lake harp when his feet leaves ther ground!” Timothy Tenwives started when a pair of merciless hands put the noose of a lariat over his head, and tightened it under his left ear. ‘“‘Thar Il soon be one Saint less,” continued the Deadwood giant when the loose end of the rope had been tossed over a limb, under which, strange to say, the wife-hunter had halted. ‘“‘Now my dear Timothy, ere you leave yer earthly kingdom fer one whar a Mormon hez a r show fer wives, tell the unblushin’ truth. har’s my little girl?” | | ‘‘ Lhave sworn that Ido not know,” was the reply. “I can do sake : than that. Youcan hang me, but I have not lied. ew ea C—O ae D e- — _. ee ‘“*Oh, no! a man who war at Mountain Mea- dows would not lie,” said Paul. ** You have just one minute ov grace, Last summer it war tar an’ feathers now it’s just what we said it would be ef yer ever came back to Deadwood for a wife—death! I count three, pards. At ther third number haul away on the Mormon galoot!” Paradise Paul stepped back, and six swarthy hands clutched the rope that encircled the Mor- mon’s neck. “Ready now, boys. I begin the death count, Timothy. One—two—” Paul pronounced the second numeral as long Not a muscle of the Mormon’s face stirred, He had evidently resolved to die game, “a Three my The word was spoken sharply, and in a clear voice. The three toughs started back and gave a jerk, and the body of Timothy Tenwives shot toward the limb above. ‘*Game ter ther last forall. I thought he’d squeal,” remarked Paradise Paul in Gisappoint- ed tones. “Fasten ther rope, boys, an’ let ’im swing, a warnin’ to all Mormon snakes,” No, cut bim down!” The Deadwood giant whirled at sound of these four words, and found himself face to face with Broadcloth Burt who had taken a step forward with a cocked revolver in his left hand. ““What’s that, Denver?’ growled Paul, ** Cut that man down, I say!” ‘**’You don’t mean it?” “T do!” and, quick as a flash the Denverite’s arms went up and two revolvers instead of one looked into the faces of Paradise Paul and bis crowd, ‘*T give you one minute,” he said calmly, addressing the leader of the rough set. ‘* Lower that swinging body, or I shall touch two trig- gers at once! Quick!” The Deadwooders stared aghast at the dandy who stood erect, almost touching the swaying body of the Mormon, with his heavy revolvers jerked from they knew not where, looking them in the face, é, There was ‘‘shoot” in the ‘‘ fashion-plate’s ” eyes. The next moment the body of Timothy Ten- wives fell with a thud at Broadcloth Burt’s feet. ‘Ar’ ye satisfied now?” asked Paradise Paul in 2 oe tones. “Tam. Now,léeave me with this’ man.” There were muttered curses and a sullen with- drawal on the pari of the Deadwood toughs,. and the Denverite was left where he stood, master of the situation. ‘“Thet trick’s yers an’ ye’r’ welcome to it!” exclaimed Paradise Paul from a spot twenty yards down the trail, ‘* You may hev been used ter hevin’ yer own way in Denver, but yon can’t in this kentry. ou ar’ nothin’ but an animated fashion-plate, an’ you'll get sp’iled ef you ever show yer face in Deadwood, Keep: er distance, kid-gloved galoot! Come back ter’ ead wood, an’ wé’ll transform ye into a human itt: An’ don’t you forget it, Broadcloth urt!’ The eyes of the dandy twinkled fearlessly, and he iaughed as he took a step toward the unseen speaker. ** Look out forme then!” be exclaimed. “It’s se that business will call me back to Dead- wood!” ‘All hunk!” responded Paul. “Come back an’ die!” CHAPTER VII. A FRIGHTENED MORMON. “Not another step back that way. isn’t in Deadwood!” Paradise Paul was in the act of remounting his borse as he spoke, “‘7T b’lieve that Mormon spider went toward the limb with a lie on his lips,” he went on, fac- ing his gang. ‘‘He took the two bosses an’ the girl. ho else’d take her ?” There was no response; the question seemed a conundrum to the toughs of Deadwood, “You, pards, kin go back ef ye want ter, but T don’t, hat did Broadcloth Burt want Timo- thy Tenwives cut down By the eternal stars! I’m the wildcat thet’s goin’ ter find out. No Denver daisy shall git abead ov Paradise Paul, an’ no Mormon shall live ter boast ov victory obtained in Dead wood! Yonder’s Deadwood,” and the speaker’s hand pointed toward the north. ‘Up thar’s monte, poker an’ liquid lightnin’; byer’s danger, ven- geance, an’ mebbe—death! I stay.” ; In an instant, as it were, the Deadwood giant had changed his mind. A moment before, full of oaths and indigna- tion, be was for going back to Deadwood; now he was resolved to stay and find Alice, the ab- ducted belle of Dakota. “Wal, we settled the Mormon snake, any- how; thar’s some ‘consolation In thet,” said a voice at Paul’s elbow. ‘But it’s blamed poor satisfaction since it- didn’t give me Alice,” was the quick retort. “Don’t I know now thet thar’s a league ‘twixt thet Denver dandy an’ old Tenwives? Suthin’ pertainin’ to Alice fetched thet animated fash-- Alice — afore he war dead fer?’ “Tt > Jame » ” (e com ,OOKS:. Cc * ~ _ % —