Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 560 — page 4: what you’re looking at

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

— - —— eo 4 The Man from Mexico. _—— He certainly felt that no one would dare do so now, where it was a fair fight between himself and the stranger, ‘* { did not expect to face a coward, sir, so you drew on me before 1 saw®you and I am at your mercy; but if you will fight me a fair duel I will meet you now with any weapons you may select.” In the hush that was upon tbe room, every word of the stranger was distinctly heard, and a number of voices echved the cry of one man: * That’s fair and squar’, Dick,” * This is my fight, pards, not yourn, so don’t chip in on my little game. ** This fine pilgrim said as how he meant to make me take back what I said, and so J tells him now to jist draw and toss mea bullet ter ‘chaw on, as a kind o’ appetizer to them words I has got ter eat. ‘* Draw, stranger, and sail in,” There was not a man present who did not know that if the stranger made the slightest movement toward drawing 4 weapon, he would - fall dead that instant in his tracks, for Dick Deadly Hand was not the man to miss his aim. CHAPTER V. SOME ONE ‘‘ CHIPS IN.” Not a muscle of the stranger’s face moved, as he stood there facing the muzzle of Dick Deadly Hand’s revolver, He showed not the slightest sign of fear. If he knew, and he could not but know, that the bully would kill him, he did not show that he feared death. Not an appealing look did he give toward the miners. He was a stranger, there in the midst of men whose cabin, he ad saved from the torch of the red-skin, whose gold, the result of hard toil, he had kept them from being robbed of, and whose lives in fact he had saved, and yet no one seemed to be his friend. If he had a friend there, that one was afraid to spring to his side and face the feared and des- perate Deadly Hand. : But the stranger made no appeal; he did not flinch; he simply looked into the muzzle of the aM ig as though deciding just what he would oO. A handsome pair of pearl-handled revolvers, silver mounted, were in his belt, along witha long, ugly-looking knife, which the sash he wore but half concealed. His lips were closed over a cigar, and blue curls of smoke went upward, showing that he smoked leisurely in spite of his danger. His hands hung to his side, and a movement of them would have been the signal for his -death. ‘* He’s cool as ice,” said one, in a whisper. ** Yes, he’s grit to ther bone,” **Got sand to throw to ther winds,” ** Looks as tho’ he were takin’ Dick’s pictur’.” “** He’s dead, sart’in, ef he winks.” ** We oughter call a halt, pards.” ** We'd git cold lead if we did.” Such were the whispered words that went around, yet were hardly heard, ** Does yer throw yer hands up, stranger, and back,down, for I hain’t standin’ here ter be photographed?’ said Dick Deadly Hand, -‘*Up with your hands, Dick Desmond, or I'll kill you!” and, with the ringing words, Stella Sampson leaped through the window, her revol- ver leveled at the desperado, and her face pale and determined. All in Last Chance knew that Stella Sampson could hit ‘‘dead center,” every time. She was noted, too, for her reckless riding, as well as her use of revolver and rifle, for she was wont often to supply the Hash House table with me, She had once leveled a revolver at a miner who was impudent to her, and made him her pardon, which he promptly did, so it was known that she was not one to trifle with. Dick Desmond loved her desperately, and he had vowed to bimself if she did not marry him, she should never become the wife of any other man. Stella rather liked the bold fellow, but she did not love him, and yet her manner of coquet- ry led him to believe that she did. Now, to see her sudden! spring in through the window, and cover him with a revolver, almost wholly unnerved him. Seeing her do what not one in the crowd had dared do, the miners broke forth in a wild yell, which added to Dick Deadly Hand’s confusion. “Up with your hands, I say; I will stand no nonsense,” repeated the girl. ** What does yer want, Stella?” ** Just what I say.” ‘You has no right to chip in here.” “T have aright, when you take a man at a disadvantage, and have not the manhood in you to acknowledge you were wrong, after his warning saved vs all, as it did.” ae was going to make me eat my words, he said. ‘* He gave you the chance to beg his pardon.” ‘*T beg no man’s pardon,” ‘Then that shows the brute in your nature! Up with your hands, I say!” ‘I won't,” ** So help me God, I'll kill you, Dick Desmond, if you do not obey.” vm knew that she meant just what she said. ‘* Permit me to arrange this affair,” and Merl the Mexican stepped forward. ‘“*That man must first obey me, then you can have your say, sir,” and Stella stepped nearer to the desperado, while the stranger bowed politely and stood still, yet did not take advan- tage of the situation to draw a weapon. ‘The girl will kill you, Dick, so you had bet- ter obey, as you would if a man commanded you to,” warned Landlord Sampson now coming forward, for one of his men had gone to call bim, “T will kill you, Dick Deadly Hand, if you do not obey! Up with your hands, [ say!” and Stella’s revolver covered the head of the desperado, while a breathless silence reigned in the saloon. “ Well, [does it, but that pilgrim will find I hain’t done with him yet,” A perfect yell greeted these words of the desperado. e had yielded, and to a girl, for his hands went quickly above his head, Then Stella said: es **Dick Desmond, you may find that the stranger is not done with you; but there is to be no trouble now, in my presence, or I will chip in again, ‘* Now, sir, what were you goin lowering her weapon she turn stranger, He bowed in his courtly way and said: ‘* Permit me, young lady, to thank you for helping me out of an ugly scrape, and to con- gratulate you upon your nerve. ‘[ did not wish to begin my lifein Last Chance by getting into trouble, but that bully has forced it upon me, ‘‘T was coming here, to seek a home, when I, from a hiding-place, heard the plot of the red- skins to surprise Last Chance, sol rode hither with all speed to warn you. ‘* Now let me arrange with this man,” and the stranger turned to Dick Desmond. His words had been heard by all and were well received. It was evident that he had made a good impression, and whether he could hold it depended entirely upon how he dealt with the desperado miner. ot a soul present had blamed bi for not at- tempting todraw a weapon, when under the muzzle of Dick Deadly Hand’s revolver, and certainly he had met the danger with marked coolness and fearlessness. Men of kis race, if he was a Mexican as he said, were not popular in that part of the coun- try, but then he bad come with the intention of settling there and he had rendered them a great service. His plan of meeting the red-skins had proved successful, and his taking a leap on horseback which no man in Last Chance had looked upon as possible, had shown that he possessed marvel- ous nerve. He was a handsome fellow, looked the perfect ntleman, was courtly in his manners as though ope drawing-room, and a velvety soft- ness of demeanor that was womanly in its ten- derness, and yet there was thought to be a heart of iron bencath the velvet exterior, Now every eye was upon him, while ‘Dick Deadly Hand faced him with a look of intensest hatred on every feature. He had sought to bully the stranger from the start, and thus add new laurels to bis name as a desperate character, and that he had been hu- miliated through him, and by Stella, had made him almost demon-like in his fury, The fact that Stella Sampson had saved the Mexican from his death-shot infuriated him, and he intended that it should be a fight to the bitter end and between them, or the stranger should have to fly ignominiously out of the camps. He must redeem his character, of having been out-braved by a woman, and so he turned to hear what the Man from Mexico had to say. _—_—— CHAPTER VI. THE MAN FROM MEXICO, WITHOUT any show of anger, excitement, or a desire to curry favor, the Man from Mexico, as the miners bad already dubbed the stranger, turned to Dick Deadly Hand, His words were not spoken in the loud tone of the bravado, but softly, and yet all heard them, his utterance was so distinct, notwithstanding his foreign accent. ‘* Your name is Dick Desmond, I believe, for so I think this lady called you?” ‘‘ Yas, and it are Dick Deadly Hand, too, and I guess the boys christened me because they know’d what I c’u’d do.” ‘‘Doubtless they did, Mr. Dick Desmond of the Deadly Hand, for bordermen generally joing what they are about,” was the cool re- oinder, ‘* What might be your name, pilgrim?” ‘* My name is Merl, and [am from Mexico,” ** Got too hot for you thar?” ** Yes, I like this climate better; but, let us not w words but come to business,” to say?” and toward the : ‘ os r Oe ly / j vareAr Cy Pa ee ee Rann arcane Sy sss _—---:-:———— re ee Menace cts sions clas ‘‘[ are your man, be it revolver, rifle or knife!” ‘** Do you gamble, Mister Deadly Hand?” ‘*T does, and I plays as I shoots—to win.” ** Ah! I am glad to hear it, for I am a gam- bler.” ‘* Now, be yer? Waal, I are the trump keerd 0’ this pack; hain’t I, pards?”’ A general assent was given to this, which be- ing interpreted was to the effect that Dick Deadly Hand was the ‘‘ boss player” in Last Chance, To this many present could testify from sad experience, n truth there were many who believed that the bully played a false game, so incessant were his winnings. “I have a game to propose with you then,” resumed the stranger. ‘* We has a game of another kind now, pard.” ‘**Wecan make it to suit the game of cards, for I propose to play you for your life or mine.” ‘* Ther devil!” Dick Deadly Hand uttered the exclamation with great vehemence, while a]l now grew silent with the intense interest of the situation, ‘* { will tell you what we will do. ‘‘Here is my revolver, Itis loaded. TU put it on this table, and along with it one thousand dollars to add a pecuniary interest to the game; then we will play one game to win, or best two in three, or best three in five, just as you please, and the winner takes the stakes,” ‘‘ The revolver and the money ?” “Yes; and the principal stake.” ‘And what are that? asked Dick Deadly Hand with growing interest. ‘* The life of the loser !” was the cool response of the Man from Mexico, ‘* Does yer mean that ther loser o’ ther game loses his life?” ‘* That is it, exactly.” ** Who shoots him?” “*The winner, of course.” ‘** Durnation !” It was evident from the exclamation of Dick Deadly Hand that he liked not the arrangement, ‘** Why can’t we draw and hev it out?” ‘* Because you may be a bad shot and injure others, and, besides, anybody can enjoy a draw and fire fight; but you pride yourself upon your nerve and your card-playing, and I tell you I | am a gambler. ‘Then, too, our friends here would be better entertained es a game for life and death, ‘* Do you play, or do you back down, after all your bluster, and thus eat your words?” There was something so polite and calm in the manner of the stranger, so free from bravado that he won the admiration of all present, and voice after voice called out: ‘** It’s a square deal, Dick.” ‘¢ Play him ther game, Deadly Hand.” ‘* Yas, ther game let it be.” ** Yer’ can’t back down now, Dick.” ‘“* Yer has some trick in this, or yer wouldn't be so durned cool in proposin’ it,” said the des- rado, not half-liking it, yet convinced that he ad to face the ordeal or lose his prestige in Last Chance; and to back down from any proposition, especially before Stella Sampson, was not to be thought of for an instant. — But he wanted to gain time, hoping some one would come to his relief with another proposi- tion, so he accused the stranger of wishing to play him a trick. ‘There is no trick, and you can watch for one, as I will, and if i catch you playing any, or cheating, I shall kill you on the instant, as you can me,” was the reply, “Squar’ ag’in,” called out a voice, and the words were greeted with a cheer, ‘‘ Tare ready ter meet yer, pard, I don’t care when or how; but this looks like a one-sided me. ‘* It is, for the winner does the killing; but I one as the other?” ‘* Just as fair, sir,” responded Stella, who was leaning against the bar, an interested spectator and listener to all that was said and done. ‘* Waal, I has a pack o’ keerds here, and I guesses my word are good for the gold,” ‘Your word is good for nothing with me, sir, so put up your gold, as I shall—here!” As the Man from Mexico spoke he unbuckled a belt from about his waist, and took from it fifty pot omggoene old-pieces, which he placed upon the table, and laid his pisto! there also. The miners also noted that the thousand dol- lars was by no means all he had in the belt, for more gold was there, and rolls of bills, too. They now took a better look at his ‘‘ get-up” — too, as he stood full under the lamps in the sa- loon. His velvet jacket was bordered around with gold pieces of a peso in value, and his hat was fringed with the same, while the cord tbat in- . circled it was ten-dollar pieces buckled to- g@@®, etber. : Adown his pantaloon seams were two rows of the same valuable trimming, while his spurs were of solid gold. will leave it to this lady if it is not as fair for | Then it was seen that his shirt was of silk, and 3 in the black scarf, tied in a sailcr’s knot, glitter- ed a large diamond, while upon the small finger — GOMNE S wiu 26h Bala a.’ d 900 eon ty i