Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 333 — page 8: what you’re looking at

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

Ee Pw oC. 4 aw oe ea CRP S 4 > of » Pag At az? FP a Fer e eee" 2" a ea —— 27 eS = —— “ aS 2a. og SSS 4. . - == se ae 5. : eae Fg ss SS ee ee 8 Derringe ee ee ‘“T sw’ar yer mou’t knock me down with An’ it war in me pocket all ther uine. a feather! time!” ‘* And it would have stayed thar, ef I hadn’t took good care ter look after it. Yer’ too durn wu’ thless ter live, an’ ther best think we kin do is ter hang yer off-hand. H’iste yer benzine, boys, an’ we'll ’tend ter his case arterwards. Johnny, set up ther jug!” A cheer arose, but whether at the prospect of ig bom the jug or enjoying the strangling of Mr. Bender, was not explained, and the judge did not seem inclined to have the point settled. ‘*Tt’s a mercy ther whisk’ comes ahead ov ther circus,” remarked a rough, witha grin. ‘‘I move Bender gits ther fu’st show. Set ’em up his way.” ‘* Thankee, Bugs, thankee, Ther ole man hez some friends, an’ they wouldn’t see him turned _ off dry. Shove her this way, Johnny—shove her this way.” With trembling eagerness old Bender reached for the bottle, and before Early Joe saw what was going on, had downéd a brimming tumbler of the ardent. Then he fell back with a sigh. ‘‘Fix it ter suit yerselves. happy," he murmured softly. nd after that it was pretty certain that Billy Bender was in no treevesd ints danger of extinc- tion, though Early Joe was in but little better humor. When the astronomical observations through the bottoms of the tumblers had been taken by the house, Early Joe backed himself against the bar, with his thumbs in the arm-holes of his rather greasy vest, and looked around him with an ugly scowl. ‘*] ain’t so sure thet some one didn’t put up this hyer hull job on me fur a chance ter git me outen ther way. Ef | thort so I'd paint this ere town red. Whar’s yer nidemmal aubecaas et hadn’t even sand ernuf ter hold ther stakes? I’m goin’ ter talk Spanish ter him, Ef Brad Awl can’t have nervier pilgrims than him, cussed ef I wouldn’t sooner hev a gang ov China- men. Thar’s some fun in kickin’ them, any- how.” ** Don’t be too sure about pickin’ him up fur a flat, Josey dear, ther lead may peter out afore yer think yer struck bed-rock. Anyway, he’s a side pard ov yourn, fur he holds a bull half-in- terest in ther Early Joe claim.” The voice floated in after some mysterious Anyhow, I die ‘ fashion, and seemed to be unknown to all there. It might come from the door; it might come from the window; it might come from some one in the room. There was a general raising of heads, ** An’ you’ve got ten dollars ov poor old Billy Bender’s in yer pockets. If he’d been half a man you wouldn’t ’a’ dared ter try ter shake it outen him.” Early Joe was as much in the dark as to who was the + howe as any of them; but he took up the gauntlet with promptness, ‘* It’s a lie; a long-legged, slab-sided, double- jJinted lie; an’ 1 .ote ther man ter back every word he says. Come out afore ’em all, an’ say that ag’in ef yer dare. Thar ain’t a man owns a foot ov the ly Joe claim but him; an’ Billy er ain’t had ten dollars ov his own sence he struck Brad Awl. Ef yer ax him he’ll tell yer sO. ** Tell—nothin’. He’s too drunk ter snore. Count yer chips with hands on thér board an’ see how much ye’r’ ahead ov his game. Tell us how much yer hed, when that lunk-head ov a Jim Norris stacked up his checks, an’ we'll know how much yer orter pass back to ther jedge.” The strange voice made its statement in a | aac meng tone, almost as if it was repeating a esson. ‘Tf that’s you, Jim Norris, tryin’ ter get even with chin,” howled Joe, his hands on his re- volvers, ‘‘ you'll never hev a chance ter try ther geome arter ter-night; there’ll be a fun’ral sure ef I kin git yer in front oy my sixes ag’in.” + Ha, im Norris went home, an’ went to bed. I’m not talkin’ fur him. It’s my horn I’m a-blowin’. You ain’t hurtin’ anybody ter- night, an’ ter-morrer yer pard in the mine ’ll cool yer off. He war jist down hyer sizin’ yer up, so ter speak. I seen his bill ov sale.” Barly Joe rushed to the window, but without there was no one visible, while right at his shoulder the voice could once more be heard: ‘*Oh, come back an’ count Old Billy’s money. Ther rest ov ’em want ter know how it is their- selves,” Fairly: badgered by the voice, which, how- ever, he was at last beginning to understand, Early Joe turned. Brad Awl was perfectly silent. There was no one there, probably, that cared a cent whether he had Judge Bender’s ten dol- lars or not; and if there was he certainly did not want the batteries of Early Joe turned upon him, in wrath. At the same time there was a curiosity felt that it might not be alto- gether safe to disappoint. Down upon the bar went a double handful of ager and without a word he began to count A. ~nzzled look stole over his face as the count progressed, and it was not until he had gone - eee eee OS r Deck, the Man with t —~. ee ee —_ ee — — he Drop. ——————E over the amount a second time that he ex- | harmed my pard. What’s this racket? Speak claimed: ‘* What thunderin’ gouge game are this? DP he hanged ef I haven’t got ten dollars too much,” ‘'That’s right. Now, ye'’r’ white, gi’n it ter William, an’ we'll call things even.” Mr. Bender was not near as drunk as he a peared to be a short time before. The voice in the air was as much a puzzle to him as to the rest; and the ten dollar hocus-pocus more so. In the silence that followed he had a chance for the floor and came staggering forward. ‘* Don’t yer b’lieve him, Joe. Ole Billy can’t tell er lie. It ain’t mine, an’ it never war,” ‘It’s yourn, now, jedge. Hanged ef Ill tech ther coin. Id be purty low down ter steal from you.” ‘‘ All right then, Set ‘em up, Johnny. It’s Billy Bender’s treat, an’ it does me proud. I ain’t felt ser good sence I left Black Dam. Ther tide’s turned, an’ some of these yere days [ll be treatin’ with ther best ov yer. Tumble up, hyar, an’ help ther ole man keep his end u “Ef they all fill up like that,” said Rapid Johnny, with an unpleased eye on Billy’s brim- ming tumbler,” it’ll take a barr’l ter go ‘round. Go a leetle slow er yer won’t have coin enough to reach. The voice in the air spoke no longer, the crowd were pushing for places, and Early Joe was standing moodily apart, when the door swung open and Mike Mulloney entered, with Colonel Thompson and Doctor Gordon following close at his heels. CHAPTER IX. NOBODY DROPS. THE little affair at Ante Pete’s cabin had all the elements of a tragedy but the corpse; and it would have that too in spite of Derringer Deck’s skill and ordinary caution had it not been for the promptness of lanthe. Probably it was only a presentiment, but she acted on it with all the certainty of positive knowledge. As the door flew open she caught Bright by the arm, and with a strength and quickness that was wholly unexpec jerked him to one-side. It was just in time, for, as he moved, Colonel Thompson’s revolver blazed, and the bullet went whistling over Bright’s shoulder. Then the colonel discovered that he had made a mistake in leaving his rear unguarded—or in the charge of his friend. The instant that he wheeled Ante Pete sprung up from the bunk and caught down a coat that was hanging on the wall, from the pocket of which he jerked a derringer, As the colonel heard his pistol talk he felt the muzzle of Ante Pete’s dash into his ear, the hammer clicking back as it came. ‘Tf you’ve hurt him you'll go over the range, you infernal, cowardly wade I ought to spat- ter your brains around, and I would if I didn’t hate to make a muss. Stand still now till we see what harm’s done. Derringer Deck is hard to kill; but an idiot like you—’ Ante Pete was too cool not to mean what he said; though his abiding faith in Derringer Deck’s luck made him believe that as yet no great harm had been done, at the sound of a voice outside. ‘* Hold your hand, Ante; a miss is as good as a mile, and we don’t want any rough work. I’ve got a bit of calico in tow. Keep him covy- ered till I take his tools and then he can have a chance to rise and explain. Have you seen any- thing of the stranger I had down at Mike’s? Here’s his daughter looking for him, and he’s turned up missing.” ** He’s hare, inside, but look out for yourself. I’ve a hole in my liver, and 'm going up the flume.” Ante Pete’s voice grew slower as he spoke, and strangely thinner. His derringer came out of Colonel Thompson’s ear, he gave a gasp, and toppled over, nor to the floor with a crash. ere was a sudden rush through the door- way, and the colonel dodged to one side as Ian- the bounded in. ‘* Hold!” she said. ‘‘ This man has been my best friend. Without him I would have been lost. What is the meaning of this base attack ; we what wicked work have you been doing ere? Doctor Gordon looked as if he was too sur- prised to make any answer, as the girl, without a second look at her father, kneel at the side of the prostrate man, and raising his head in her lap, placed her hand upon his heart. With an exclamation of horror she drew it away again and held it up toward the light. It was red with blood. ‘**Go out, go out! This is no apiene for you. That is not our work. He would have died if we had not found him. Ah!” Doctor Gordon suddenly ceased speaking. The colonel with revolver in hand, had crouched near to the floor to r out, and while he was watching for the enemy in front, Derringer Dick sprung through the window from the rear, crushing him down, while, at the same time, he covered Gordon. “ Hands up, old man,” he cried, ‘‘ m not trusting you for a cent, and I'll kill him if he’s _who had his fingers we | ' } quick, or PU drill you.” | The safety of the doctor lay in his not offering to produce a w n. With more coolness than would be expec he briefly explained how they had come there, what they had found, and | how it was doubtless an unwarranted suspicion | that had caused the colonel to make the attempt on Bright’s life. It only took a couple dozen words to state the full facts, ‘‘'That’s so, is it? Well, there’s that giddy daughter of yours that if caught running o with Colonel Coldsteel. If I hadn’t chipped in she would have had to go, whether or no, The next time he can take her and be happy. You hold your hands very eae up, and march out. If you don’t Pll be obliged to plug you. | Your daughter can follow; and this whelp Pll take pleasure in kicking out. If I find either of you within pistol-shot of this ranch to-night I'll | a a little solid lead where it will do the most good. Git!” ‘‘But this wounded man—I am a surgeon and I do not wish to leave him to die. At least allow me to examine his wound.” ‘Thanks; but I’m a doctor myself. If I can’t pull him through I'll send for a consultation. Clean out now; I want a chance to get at him. Td trust you, maybe; but this hound I won’t. It’s the last asking.” The tones were very up over his head, was too wise to linger. ‘*Come, lanthe, this is no place for you,” he said, as he stalked past his daughter. ‘‘ We are in positive doners every moment until I get you back to the Ark,” ‘* Better go, miss,” added Bright. ‘*‘ You can’4 do him any good, and I want you out of the way when I fire this vermin out.” The ‘‘ vermin” lay with his face to the floor, his arms twisted behind him, Derringer Deck holding his crossed wrists in a gripe that never loosened, his voice as steady as though there was not one seemingly dead man there, and prospects fair for more. Ianthe hardly took in the situation. All of her attention was centered on Ante Pete. When she had looked at her stained hand with a shiver ' | EE | | that. He ceased speaking | a ee tO ; she turned her glance again to the wounded man, and now, as she bent over him, she uttered a glad cry: ‘* Ah, his eyes open! He lives! I knew he could not be dead, I will go now. And do not harm my father, or that man. It has all been a mistake. You have been such a good friend to me, we will all thank you when the time is more fitting.” She laid the head of the reviving Ante Pete softly down and quietly flitted out, ‘* And now you go, too.” With a display of strength that was wonder- ful ina man of his size, Derringer Deck shifted his gr and with one prodigious heave flung Colonel Thompson far out into the moonlight. Then = slammed the door and turned to his friend. ‘‘Look out for yourself, Deck,” came feebly from the lips of the wounded man, “Don’t you worry. The girl will look after Thompson don’t want to quarrel with the old man yet, and he’s gone too far as it is. Now, old boy, is it up and downserious! Let’s see how bad you’re hurt.” ‘‘Not as bad as it might be. There’s a rib cracked and some blood lost, but Pll be all right. Tie me up and give me a little whisky, I’ve a heap of funny things to tell you. May you can see your way clear through them; hang me if I can.” So Derri minister to er. Deck very coolly proceeded to is wants and examine into his hurt, while he listened to the history of what - had happened. Meantime the shrewdness of Bright’s trust had become apparent. The trio had gone off in the direction of the Ark, Colonel Thompson had sprung up raving, but Ianthe had thrown herself upon arm and shaken reason into him. ‘“Very well, miss. It is all about you, any- how, and the affair can keep until to-morrow, Brad Awl has no use for those two men. In spite of what you say I am convinced that they had something to do with your abduction, though the scheme happened to go wrong. You should never have come here at al]. and I wish you were safely out of it. I see that you are going to seriously clog your father’s efforts for wealth.” ‘‘T am not so sure of that,” answered the young lady Spernly. “T can take very care of myself, and ask or you. Go your way and I will go mine.” Me Ferhape yon orn right,” sai the Rig en thoughtfully, ‘‘ but your courage wi or- oughly tested before you get through. It would be so in every other mining-camp, and it will be so at Brad Awl. If we escort you back to the Ark will you have the courage to remain there again alone? There are parties here that I am most anxious he should see to-night. It is most unfortunate that I should have been away when you arrived.” ‘* Afraid! what should I be afraid of? I have been deceived once—that will not happen again, colm itive, and the doctor,- ron no protection from ° EDOOK :