Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 333 — page 7: what you’re looking at

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

— — ° . ———— —— . , . — ee S Derringer Deck, the Man with the Drop. ee ae fusion had been briefer than it seems when de- scribed on paper. None of his excitement was reflected on the plump, good-natured face of the colonel, yet he joined in the movement. ‘¢ Moderate your transports, my dear doctor, always moderate them, whether they are of hope or fear. J am with you; and the best and largest part of Brad Aw] are with me. Your daughter will come to no harm, To satisfy you we will look around at once.” He caught the doctor by the arm, and the two in company hastily left the house. “*Melican man wantchee findee glil, bettle looksee Ante Petes. We Waillo healee elil talkee. Wantchee findee Pete; We Waillo no can tell; allo samee him findee maskee. Bettle looksee the’ah.” ‘* You infernal Chinaman, what are you doing here again?” At the sound of the voice, Colonel Thompson turned angrily and lifted his hand. Before it could fall the Celestial had wae Spe out of the way, while Doctor Gordon caught it in his own. ‘‘ Wait, wait!” he said. ‘‘Why, don’t you understand? He says he heard Ianthe inquiring for some one; and though he does not know where he is, he is certain that she has found ‘him. Who is this Ante Pete? and how could my daughter, a perfect stranger, have heard of him? ‘That’s your conundrum, my dear friend; and you'll have a dozen worse ones in stock, i ou listen to such a double-barreled liar. Why, e’s been run out of town a couple of times al- ready; and I can assure you they will hang him before they get through with him if he don’t look a little out. No doubt there is not a word of truth in what he says.” ‘* But is there such a man as Ante Pete?” ‘*Of course there is such a man, though he is no friend of mine. He is a new-comer, and has bought a little shanty not far from this. He is more likely to be anywhere else than home, and I am certain that Aan daughter could have no possible interest in finding him.” “JT do not know; I donotknow. It isa clew at least. First, let us go there—to his house. Then—the town is not a large one, and if we do not meet her, you can certainly guess where she ‘ might be. If she is still missing a general alarm must be given. If it takes ten thousand dollars I will have her back again.” ** Certainly—though for twice ten thousand I would not have her harmed. Here is Ante Pete’s. The Chinaman’s saying that he did not know where it was, was enough to convince me at once that he was lying. As I remarked, Ante Pete is not one of my friends. You had better manage the interview yourself—if we find him here.’ The chances looked favorable, however, as a feeble gleam of light could be seen through a narrow crack in the rough door, and with something like hope at least, the doctor ovanre his knuckles with a sharpness that brought an immediate answer. **Come in, if you’re white, blast you! If I could, I'd open the door; but, as it is, the sooner you kick it down, the sooner you'll see what sort of a job they’ve put up on Ante Pete.” The colonel gave an exclamation of surprise. There was evidently some sort of a little mystery here; and its explanation might throw light upon the disappearance of Miss Gordon. He tried the door, and finding that it did not yield he threw his shoulder against it with a force that sent it flying. As he followed it into the room he saw the fi of a man lying on a rude bunk that occu- jed one side of the little room. ‘‘Hello! what does this mean?” exclaimed Thompson, in surprise, ‘‘ Are you sick, dead, or in prisonf There’s something wrong some- way.” o) I should remark. It’s all thr’u’; or so near it I just missed the fun. I’ve got a bullet-hole somewhere among my ribs, and if these strings draw much veer my hands and feet will drop off. Cut me loose and I'll give you a straight tip about the most infernal outrage ever set up even in Brad Awl.” “We'll oe you a chance to talk—and may be two,” said the colonel, as he cut the cords, ‘** But say it all slow, and see that you don’t get more than a mile off of the truth.” ‘Thanks. I’m moulting now, and under cow; - you can say about what you choose, especiall as the infernal thieves ook my irons along wit them, and you're heeled for all that’s out. When 1 get around again maybe you'll sing a little smaller.” ‘For Heaven’s sake don’t attempt any such work as that,” interrupted the doctor, pushing his friend aside, and addressing Ante Pete, who had risen to a sitting posture, and was rubbing his limbs to restore the circulation, which had been pretty thoroughly disarranged by the tightness with which he had been bound. “ Tell me the truth; did you see anything of a young lady—a stranger here—my daughter? Speak, man. Every moment we waste increases her r. ” " i don’t know your daughter from a Yavapai squaw—which I s’pose she ain’t; but a blooming —$—$—_——$— CTT LLL @ damsel there was round here, and those are why | his knees on his breast, his hand at his throat. these are thusly. Fire in her heart, blood in her | He had the chance now to work his wicked will, eye, a revolver in her hand, she came in to paint things red—and I reckon she succeeded. She was on the trail after one Derringer Deck, who happens to be an old side pard of mine, and as I wouldn’t give him away, she prepared to let me have it. Now, old man, if your daughter is gone on Deck, them be her.” ‘*Oh, curses on Derringer Deck, he seems to be at the bottom of all my troubles. But that explains nothing. Who tied you up?—surely she did not—and where did she go?” ‘Sure enough. You can’t wait a week for the next installment. In the next chapter there was some shooting done. I wouldn’t have sup- sed a dove with so soft a voice would have sone anything but coo gently.” ‘* Will you never finish?” ** Easy by jerks, old gentleman ; have I said she went anywhere? It’s my story I’m a-tellin’ you, and if you don’t like it you can carry your clams to another market. don’t say she shot; but she had an iron in her hand, there was a flash and I tumbled. Then a whole menagerie seemed to be let loose on me and the next thing I knew I was trussed up as you saw and half a dozen tough little citizens were standing around, | with their paws on the girl and their sixes level- | ed at me. ‘ We’ve no quarrel with you, Ante Pete,’ gently remarked the boss, ‘and we'd sooner than not let you go, if you can keep your tongue still. Ill give you a chance, anyhow. | This affair is nothing to you and it’s not your | chip. If you ever breathe a word about us [ll come back and cut your throat from ear to ear.’ So you see I ain’t breathing a word.” ‘* The villain is spinning his yarn out for some | urpose,” broke in Colonel Thompson. ‘‘ There is nothing to be learned here. . come on to the next place. daughter yet.” ‘* For a level head, you take the cake,” laugh- ingly retorted Ante Pete, growing more and more at his ease. ‘‘So you don’t want to know where she went to after all?” ‘*' Yes, yes. What happened after that?’ Doctor Gordon bent over eagerly and gr the hand of the young man, that happened to be flourishing within reach. ‘“*Then. Well, she broke away from them all | of a sudden, turned a flip-flop as neatly as though she’d never done anything else for a liv- ing, and the whole gang, after staring like stuck pigs as her heels twinkled over the sill, followed er out of the window. I s’pect they’re all run- | ning yet.” ‘* Could it have been Ianthe? I cannot recog- nize her in such a character; unless she was in- quiring for this Deck Bright under the supposi- tion that he had been false to me. She is a | strange girl, better able than I to stand alone in such a place as I find this to be. She is capable of doing something desperate. What was her appearance? how was she dressed?” ‘Sandals, knee-breeches, a coat with a cape a pig-tail and an umberella hat,” rattled off Ante Pete, glibly. ‘“‘If it hadn’t n for her voice you couldn’t have told her from a John Chinaman. I was almost fooled myself.” ‘‘A Chinaman! Curses on you, you are in league with that Bright to detain us here, If there is a word of truth in what you say the Celestial must be in it too. There is only one of them up-town and he it was that directed us here. ell have the truth out of you—” ‘* But Pve been giving it to you straight as I knew how, Iswear [have. And—hark! There's Derringer Deck now. If you don’t believe me We will miss your about the time you start to put on frills it will be because he left his shooting-irons at home.” As he spoke he threw up his hands for silence, and in the hush they heard the free tread of the man with the derringers, as he approached outside. ‘* Ah, I'll be ready for him!” shouted the colo- nel, as he tore out a revolver; and, throwing open the door, he took hasty aim, and fired. CHAPTER VIII. JUDGE BENDER SETS THEM UP. UNFORTUNATELY for Billy Bender, if he had designs on the stakes of which he had so uncere- moniously made himself the holder, the fight be- tween Early Joe and his antagonist was of brief duration, and was decided by a chance blow. In the uncertain light the two men sparred for a few moments, and then in turn each to connect they dod warily let go. Failin Bodie as though neither each other ‘round and was ing to give away a point. Then, when this had lasted so long that it seemed likely that the fight would degenerate into a farce they suddenly dashed at one another striking blow after blow, straight from the shoulder, yet each at the same time guarding. The third time Early Joe did not let his fist come out, but drew it back again for another, trial The only half-intended feint brought both time and distance right, and the hit went crashing home. Jim Norris fell like a log, and as he touched the ground Early Joe dropped on top of him, ill him and | his collar showed why ask him. If he don’t give you a solid statement with no one to say no. If Brad Awl expected to see him plunging in, tooth and nail, Brad Awl was very much disap- inted. Though the bitterness of death was tween the two men, Early Joe, carefully guarding against any stratagem that might turn the tables on him, bent downward, looking and listening to learn if Norris was entirely unconscious. He was not, yet he was too limp and nerveless to attempt anything like a successful struggle. ‘*Poor cuss,” said Joe, with a snort, * he’s tired; and Joseph rocked him to sleep afore he | knowed it.” Then, shifting one wrist under his knee he caught off his hat, and began softly to fan the prostrate man. After all it was only a momentary faintness. The strong life came bursting back through the veins of Jim Norris, and before the laugh of the crowd had died away fhto a sullen murmur he was writhing in fierce but impotent strength. At that the iron fingers tightened on his throat again, as Early Joe stooped still lower and ground out in a whisper that was audible only to him: ‘*T’ve got you foul, Jim Norris, and right where I want you. I could choke the life out of you if I shut my fingers; but I ain’t a-goin’ ter do it. Dm goin’ ter let yer live; you've, got ter live. I’m ther best man, an’ you: know it. What I want you to see are ’me a-flamin’ ’round with ther Lily ov Brad Awl, an’ you not darin’ ter open yer mouth. Oh, I'd sooner a dozen times over hev yer live fur that than ter kill yer now, though I hate yer wuss then snakes. Me an’ ther Lily—yer hear me, say?” , Norris heard but gave no answer. Mechani- cally the fingers closed again on his throat, and this time with a force that threatened to shut his breath off altogether. A warning gasp recalled Early Joe toa sense of the danger. is fingers unloosed and he rose to his feet. “Tt’s a square heat, boys. I'll corral ther stakes, an set em up fur ther city. Come along inside.” Without waiting to see what Norris might say he turned and led the way. ‘* Now then, hyar—hello. Whar’s my man?” Doctor Gabriel had disappeared, and Billy Ben- der who had just dropped the stakes in his capa- _ cious pockets, looked as though he wished, that he had gone along. wtessae the bartender’s grasp on e had lingered. ‘“'Your man had business ’round ther corner soon ez he saw Jim war licked,” explained Ra id Johnny. ‘* Hyer’s Mr. Bender thet’s holdin’ ther stakes in his place. I reckon ef yer crowd him hard enough he’ll settle up. I’ve been a-watch- in’ ov him, Joe, and he won’t be fur throwin’ off on yer.” Rapid Johnny evidently had eyes in the back of his head, since, during the confidence between Laughing Lil and the doctor, he had been lean- ing out of the window, watching the fight with the most intense eagerness. ‘*So yer thought you’d corral ther sleepers, did yer? Notfur Joe. Fork over, Mr. Bender, and then you kin save yer wuthless neck ex- plainin’ how you come ter freeze on.” ‘**Pon me soul I didn’t wanter have anything ter do with ‘em; Elijer fishbites, no. ut he war jist so skeered I thort he’d drop; an’ he sez ter me, ‘ Bender,’ sez he, ‘I don’t know neither ov ’em, but if looks goes fur arything they’re real bad men, they be, an’ ef ther feller that picked me out gits licked my life wouldn’t be wuth adurn. Jest look after them things, will — yer, an’ tell °em I’m sorry, but I hed business — down town? That’s what he said, an’ afore I knowed it I hed both hands full of shekels, an’ him skipped. In course I didn’t wanter chip, an’ I were just a-goin’ ter run arter him ter a by back when Johnny mounted me. So hyar I be, an’ hyar’s yer coin, every dorg-blasted copper ov it. Oh, Jedge Bender are square, every time. You kin b’leve me, can’t ye? Billy’s voice died away into a whine, and he looked at Early Joe as though he had some fears for his fate, for that worthy had been staring at him in a hard, ae way that was enough to break up the nerves of an ordinary man, let alone the softened strings that belonged to the bummer from Black Dam. Without a word Joe twice counted over the ils. Then he looked up, with a red gleam in his eye. be Ten dollars short. Fork!” ‘‘Ten dollars? Oh, yer can’t hev counted straight! I hain’t hed that much spelter sence I left Slaughter Bar, three year ago. Count it ag’in, an’ count it slow!” ‘‘Last time ov askin’. You can’t git away with it. Hand over, er I'll take it off yer corpse. Then I'll go on ter settle with him.” ‘*Don’t! Honor bright! Hyar’s me pockets, inside out, an’ not a thing in ’em. See!’ Suiting the action to the word, Bender turned the pockets—and there was a chug and a jingle as a ten-dollar gold-piece fell to the floor. ‘* Whar did that come from?” he cried, in an amazement that was too intense not to be gen- | - 7 ee , EComicboo (E