Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 508 — page 19: what you’re looking at

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

- Topnotch Tim, the Mad Parson. ee ee 19 fighting; but it was only by squads or indi- viduals who had been cornered, as the insurgents were split up and scattered. Dan Lasher kept about him the only compact body, a dozen or more of the best men on his side, who followed him into the saloon in his establishment, where several others had gath- ered, including Deadwood Dave and his gang, who were trying to keep out of the way of | bullets. As the inside fortification was still there, it was at once made available to keep back their enemies; but the Tycoons had once before dis- | covered what it amounted to, and, though then victorious, they were in no burry to tackle it, Dan Lasher, perceiving tbat he had at least a brief respite, burried up-stairs, stuffed his money and valuables into a bag, and hastily made his arrangements for retreating from the field which was then clearly lost. Those arrangements he communicated to a few faithful friends, who were to be allowed to accompany him if they chose to do so, and they gladly availed themselves of the privilege. One by one they sneaked out of the back door, and speedily put a safe distance between them- selves and Topnotch. Those who were not so deeply compromised also sneaked out, but did not trouble themselves to go so far, being content to keep out of the way until the storm blew over. When daylight came, and the Tycoons at- tacked the headquarters of the rebellion, they found nobody in the saloon but the barkeeper and a few customers who were unable to carry their loads of whisky. CHAPTER XXV. TRAITOROUS TOUGHS. AMONG those who ‘scattered out” from Top- notch, after the victory of the Tycoons, were Deadwood Dave and his gang. They were not invited by Dan Lasher to ac- company him in his flight, not being regarded as faithful, or in any respect valuable allies, and they did not, in fact, accompany him; but they took the same directicn, and ultimately arrived at the same destination. They fully realized the fact that Topnotch was no longer—at least not for a considerable length of time—a safe abiding-place for them. If there had been nothing against them but the quiet and inconspicuous part they played in the insurrection, they would have had no need to trouble themselves about the consequences, as they might have slipped into obscurity, and the chances were that they would not have been noticed or thought of; but they had sense enough to know that they had compromised themselves pretty deeply. : Though they bad not been able to fulfill their expectation of picking up unwatched bits of property during the turmoil, they had effected the capture of Simon Marvel, the son of the Chief of the Tycoons. By turning their prisoner over to Dan Lasher’s party, they had put nis life in peril, thereby in- curring the enmity of bis father and friends. The act which they fancied would operate ie at to their advantage had proved to bea oomerang. Simon Neapval would of course denounce them as the scoundrels who bad got him into trouble, and they might expect immediate ven- geance to be visited upon them. Dan Lasher ought to be friendly to them, as they had surely done him a good turn by put- ting him in possession of young Marvel, and it was no fault of theirs that the scheme had not worked well. In their opinion the gambler was bound to take care of them, or to help them, and they meant to follow him up and stick to him as long as he had a dollar, Handsome Dan had found a snug and reason- ably secure retreat in the hills, at a little settle- ment, if it might be so called, of unsettled men who were not note for obedience to the laws, Among those reprobates, who were glad enough to get hold of him, he assumed the leadership at once, by virtue of his superior in- telligence and ability, as well as because of his money. Having thus established himself, he proceeded to enlist recruits, and to meditate schemes of | revenge upon the Tycoons and all his enemies in Topnotch., hen Deadwood Dave and his three comrades joined this society, they were not warmly wel- comed. It was known that they could not be depended on for such work as was wanted, and that they represented merely an undesirable addition of four hungry and thirsty stomachs, thirst being mainly what was the matter with them. : Though Dan Lasher treated the Topnot-h toughs decently, feeling that he was in a man- ner responsible for their flight, there were plenty of others who slighted and snubbed them, giving them te understand in many ways that they were regarded as incumbrances. Something more than slights and snubs was needed to make existence a misery to them, and the something more was furnished by a short allowance of liquors, ( | With the aid of Dan Lasher’s money, it was no difficult matter for the outlaw colony to get ; plenty of food and drink, and all who wanted it | were well supplied with whisky, except the Top- notch toughs, whose rations were much smaller than they wished them to be. This destitution begot in them a spirit of re- bellion, and among themselves they grumbled at what they considered bad treatment, though they made no loud complaint openly. ‘**[ don’t mean to stand this no longer,” said Deadwood Dave to Bad Lands Ben. ‘ We got more’n pay for it.” ourselves into a scrape by tryin’to help Dan Lasher and the other fellers, and, instid o’ pom- perin’ us up as they ort to do, they treat us wuss’n dogs,” ““ What can we do about it?’ inquired Ben. ‘*’You an’ I can jest light out o’ here, and go off on our own hook.” ‘Whar can we goto? Topnotch is shet up ag’inst us,” ‘I ain’t sure that itis. It’s my notion that the best thing we can do is to go back thar, and that we can make the move pay, too.” ‘“*Thar’s some sort of a scheme workin’ in your head, Dave. What is it?” ‘It’s jest this: The Tycoons naterally want to know whar Dan Lasher is hidin’, and what kind of a game he is up to. Wecan give ’em those p’ints, and that ain’t all we can do,” ‘* What more?” ** We can show ’em how to find and gobble up Handsome Dan and as many of his pards as they want. If that ain’t wu’th money, and won’t fetch money, I’m foolin’ myself.” ** Why, Dave, that would make us traitors to our friends.” “Friends? Purty sort o’ friends! It’s they that’s been traitors tous, The way we've been treated is asin and a shame, I'd ruther be killed than starved to death, anyhow. As pub- lic-sperrited citizens, we’ve got a duty to do, an’ we must pitch in an’ do it,” ‘*T reckon you're right, Dave, and I reely hope that we wou’t be jumpin’ out o’ the fryin’- pan into the fire. I will be mighty glad to git se back to Bart McGinley’s, and so will our pards, ‘* Thar ain’t no pards in this but us, Ben, The scheme will float us two easy enough, I reckon; but it mought not hold up any more. When we git back to Topnotch, and make ourselves solid with the Tycoons, then we'll see what we can do for the others; but jest now it stands us in hand to look out for ourselves.” ‘““That looks to be kinder rough on the boys; but you’ve got a great head, Dave, and I reckon it’s all for the best.” That night Deadwood Dave and Bad Lands Ben slipped out of the camp and startea for Topnotch, hey might as well have gone openly and in the daytime, as nobody wanted to keep them there, and there was no regret at their depar- ture, except on the part of the two comrades whom they had left behind, deserted, but not forsaken. When they “‘showed up” in Topnotch the next morning, they were introduced to the et ag somewhat sooner than they had ex- Simon Marvel saw and recognized them, and pointed them out to Ben Eagleson, who ar- rested them, and they made no attempt at re- sistance. The marshal conveyed them at once to the headquarters of the Tycoons, who had estab- lished a sort of martial law in Topnotch since their final victory. ‘What does this mean?” grumpily demanded Deadwood Dave, when he was arraigned before the magnates. ‘‘ We are peaceable and public- sperrited citizens, and we ain’t doin’ no harm. I'd like to know what we’ve been jerked up for. ‘*Do you see that young gentleman?” replied the marshal, pointing at Simon Marvel. ‘‘ Yes, [ see him. I know him well. nice young gentleman.” ‘You are accused of having kidnapped him during the recent disturbances here, and of having put him where he was in peril of his life. e would have met his death by hang- ing, if he had not been rescued by his friends,” ‘*Tt ain’t raally possible that you mean to bring that’ up ag’inst us!” protested Dave, ‘‘ That warn’t nothing but a joke. We didn’t harm the young feller, and never meant to harm hin. He was took away from us, and we ain’t to blame for what happened arter that. If thar was any harm in that little trick, we’ve got news for you that'll pay for it, and a heap He's a ‘* What is your news?” inquired Eagleson. ‘¢ We are two public-sperrited citizens, mean- in’ no harm, and wantin’ to do our dooty and the fa’r thing, and we’ve come here, lookin’ for no trouble, to bring you some news that ort to be wu’th a heap to you.” ‘* What is it, then? Don’t keep us waiting.” ‘“We can show you whar Handsome Dan Lasher and his pards are hidin’ and tell you what sort of a game they are up to, and put you onto ’em so0’s you can gobble ’em all up, oras many of ’em as you want, and that’s a deal that we allow to be wu’th somethin’.” _ . Ne - P ‘ v4 : Ter CHAPTER XXXVI, THEIR JUST REWARD, HAVING announced his offer, Deadwood Dave looked around upon the committee with an air of triumph, as if he believed that he had them just where he wanted them. Ben Eagleson, however, who acted as spokes- man of the committee, gave the Topnotch tough a glance of contempt, and followed it up with a cold reply that speedily reduced the temperature of the big bully. ‘Tf I understand you right,” said the mar- shal, ‘‘ you propose to betray your friends, and you want to be paid for it.” ‘*They ain’t no friends o’ mine!” gruffly an- swered Dave. ‘* How much do you think that job ought to be worth?” ‘t We allow, as Isaid, that it ort to be wu’th a heap to you folks.” “Well, Mr. Deadbeat Dave, the solemn fact is that it is not worth a red cent to us,” ** Not wu’th—” ‘*Not worth anything at all. We won’t have it at any price. ou have brought your mangy pigs to the wrong market. ou have given yourself away, without the faintest chance of getting anything in return, We don’t want those men.’ ‘‘Don’t want those men?’ stammered Dave. ** Don’t want Dan Lasher and his pards?” He was so surprised and discomfited, that be could not do justice to the subject, or find any suitable expression for his astonishment. ‘*We don’t want those men,” repeated Ben Eagleson. ‘‘We have no use for them atull. Having got them off our hands, we are glad to he rid of them, and only hope that we may never see them again.” Deadwood Dave looked around at the rest. of the persons present, with a sorrowful, all- broke-up gaze, but saw no sign of any dissent from the opinion expressed by the marshal. ‘‘ That beats me,” he muttered. ‘‘ Well, Ben, as these folks don’t seem to he such public- sperrited citizens as we had allowed they mought be, I reckon we’d better jog along.” ‘‘ Don’t be in a burry,” interposed Ben Eagle- son, as the two toughs started to leave the room, ‘¢ { think we can find a use for you.” ** As how?” inquired Dave, rather dubiously. ‘* As an example and a warning to other pub- lic-spirited citizens of your stripe.” ‘* Seems like I don’t ketch on to that kind of a scheme,” ‘IT think you will ketch onto it before long, or it will ketch onto you—that is, if Jack Kete is alive and able to attend to business. We did not want the men you proposed to sell to us, We would not have gone ten steps out of our way to take the whole batcu of them. But we did want you, and we have got you, and we mean to keep you,” ‘* What for? “There is a serious charge against you—a charge of attempted muruer. ‘* We ain’t murdered nobody,” protested Ben Staples, who had been viewing the position of affairs with gradually increasing alarm, ‘*But you started in to murder him. You did all you dared to doin that way. You gob- bled him up and turned him over to those men and it was no fault of yours that he escaped from being killed.” ‘That warn’t nothin’ but a joke,” pitifully declared Deadwood Dave. ‘‘ We didn’t harm the young feller, and he was took away from 8. ‘*That is what you told us a while ago, and we believe you now, just as much as we be- lieved you then. Well, Mr. Deadbeat Dave, you shall have a fair trial, with no reason to complain of being kept waiting.” Deadwood Dave and Bad Lands Ben, in spite of their protests and entreaties, were effectually prevented from leaving the room, and it became evident to them that they had made a bad move and were playing a losing game, with their lives for the stakes, Ben Stap‘es looked mournfully and reproach- fully at his partner, whose pigheaded stupidity had got them both into that scrape, and the big bully sat with eyes cast down, dumfounded by the unexpected turn the affair had taken. A F of the Lynch variety was speedily im- paneled, and no person was appointed to pre- side in lieu of a judge, as the jury was sup- posed to furnish its own law. Ben Eagleson prosecuted were expected and the summary trial proceeded, Simon Marvel was of course the main wit- ness, relating how Deadwood Dave and his gang had entered the office of the mining company when he was there alone, bad vainly tried to open the safe, had searched for valuables wrathy because they found nothing, had vente their anger on the furniture, and had forcibly taken him away, bound and helpless, He went on to tell howthey had conveyed him to Bart McGinley’s, where they had de- prived him of bis money and watch, besides sub- jecting him to insult and injury, and had finally turned him over to Dan Lasher, by whom he was threatened with death, and he ha the prisoners who 7 to conduct their own defense, ae oe, as Eomicbooks (eC) = - ———