Beadle's Half Dime Library (no. 590) (1888 11 13)
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12 most of my time until Thursday night * Allright. I will beon hand in the morn- ing. You better take care not to get into a rumpus, if you go back to Jackpot, for some one may give you a dig in the ribs, and that would knock your pians in the head.” Promising to be watchful, Bristol remounted his horse and galloped back toward Echo Can- yon, which he reached shortly after nightfall, no One apparently suspecting that he had been out of the camp, CHAPTER XII. A LITTLE GAME THAT DIDN’T WORK. astir, and return here, where I shall spend the LEAVING his horse with the other horses at the mouth of the Pass, Dick made his oy on foot into the camp, and arrived at the Jackpot Inn in time for supper, of which repast he par- took heartily. After supper he sauntered out on the piazza, where he seated himself to enjoy the moonlight and a cigar. ** Let me see!” he mused, ‘ I believe I was to meet Miss Pearl Prince in the grove to-night, and receive an introduction to her alleged hus- band. I reckon, however, that it will be hardly necessary, after what I have learned.” So his siesta was not broken. There was little to do now, he told himself, but to await the arrival of Tuesday night, when the culminating incidents of his visit to Jackpot City would im all probability take place. As he sat smoking his cigar, he noticed a roughly dressed, red-whiskered’ man, who paced to and fro in front of the hotel at regular inter- vals—a personage whom the detective was sure he had never seen before. Perhaps his attention would not have been at- tracted to the individual at all, had not he so eile pe ch continued his tramp in front of the otel. **I wonder who the fellow is?’ Dick mused. “He acts like a stranger, for no one appears to know him. There’s something about his dress and his movements, however, that gives rise to a suspicion that he may not be exactly what he seems.” When he had finished his cigar, Dick, out of curiosity, went in and consulted the little book which the General used as a register, and found inscribed therein in a scrawling style of chiro- graphy the by no means aristocratic cognomen, ‘Ike Davis, Prescott, A. T.” Got a new arrival, eb?’ Dick remarked to the General, who, in the absence of paying ae was regaling himself with a cock- tail, “Yas. A chap wi’ red whiskers,” the General assented, ‘* Another convert, I reckon.” As Dick was about turning away, a boy en- . tered the room and touched him on thearm. **Some one wants to see you!” was the an- nouncement, **Some one wants to see me?’ echoed Dick. **' Who is it?” ** Miss Princa.” * Which Miss Prince?” “Tbe man’s gal what is shet up!” was the lucid explanation. “Miss Nellie!” thought Dick. ‘I wonder what she can want of me? Where is she, boy?” “Down by the crush-mill. Come! Ill show you!” Dick glanced at his watch, and found that it was after ten o’clock. ** Perbaps the girl has got hack from her visit to her father, and has something to tell me!’ he mused. So, bidding the urchin lead the way he left the hotel, The boy kept trotting along ahead, until they were close to the mill, when he suddenly disap- peared. Just where, or how, Dick was unable to say; but he was gone, nevertheless: so the detective halted point-blank, to deliberate, ** Where did the young imp seud to?” he mut- tered. “ This don’t look quite right, hang me it | it does! Perhaps I have been steered into a bd! 2 e had no time for further reflection, for there was arush of feet, and he found himself attacked by three burly men, The moon was high enough in the heavens, and shed its light down into the guleh, making all objects startlingly distinct, and by it Dick had no difficulty in recognizing one of his as- sailants as Podesta, the Danite. “Hal now we've got you!” Podesta cried, rab ee yy 22 gg Youre, but ference ow a sport. e our mutton this time, you cussed Yank!” Sy : r ‘ od =f , Deadwood Dick Jr.’s Decrees. ‘*That’s a sheep’shead remark!” Dick re- torted, as he parried a triplet of blows, succes- sively, and then knocked one of his assailants flat upon his back. ‘I'll endeavor to make you think there’s more mule than mutton in my composition!” There was no further time for words, for it took the best of attention to business for Dick to hold his own against the onslaught that was now made upon him, The battle was waging hot and heavy, when an interference occurred, that was a surprise to at least one of the party—Deadwood Dick. There was a shout, and Ike Davis, the man with the red whiskers, rushed in upon the scene, a cocked six-shooter in either hand, ** Stop! let up, here!” he cried, ‘or I’ll blow yer heads off. Git! you two bloody Mormon curs, or down goes Pie 3? shanty!” That settled it, Podesta and his companions gave a glance at the ‘‘man with the pops,” and then turned and beat a hasty retreat. ‘** Well, pardner, I reckon they were giving it o Ag pretty hot!” Davis observed, addressing ic ‘Ob! they were giving me plenty of business to occupy my attention!” Dick replied, smiling. ** T allow you don’t belong to the Mormon herd?” ‘* Well, not that I am aware of,” was the re- ply. ‘I only arrived to-night, soam a stranger here.” ree a mf way of the pass 3 ae 4 had a hard time getting here, too, but [ found the gatekeeper was an old acquuint- ance o’ mine, and he let me through, and give me my cues, so’s ’'d know how to work the racket,” ** Ah! I understand. Well, as the war seems to be over for the time being, I suppose we might as well meander back toward the hotel.” Davis assented, so they returned toward the Jackpot Inn, ““] take it you’re a stranger in the camp, also,” Davis observed. ‘* Well, yes, to a certain extent. been here a short time,” ‘* Were you ever in Carson se “Ob! yes, I came to this place from Car- I’ve only ] ‘*Ah! Perhaps you may have known a for- mer resident of Carson, named Henry Kirke?” ‘**T have heard of such a party,” was the an- swer, Dick giving his inquisitor a sharper glance, ‘* Yes, so I have understood. had a young wife, did he not?” ** So I understand.” Kirke formerly ‘‘ Kirke skipped the town a defaulter, and left | his wife behind to stand the brunt of the dis- | grace?” ** Yes, so it is said.” ‘* Kirke’s wife then took up her abode with a man named Morton Meredith, who chanced to be Kirke’s nephew, and he, too, found it neces- sary to leave Carson, and when he did leave, he left the deserted ana unfortunate woman behind, a corpse.” ** You seem to have a pretty thorough knowl- edge of the case. Who are you?” Dick spoke sharply. ‘*T am Ike Davis, the brother of the murdered woman!” was the reply. ** Ha! then you have come to Jackpot City for the purpose of —” ‘* Killing Morton Meredith!” was the fierce answer. ‘I learned that he was here, and here my six months’ search for the manends, To- morrow I shall hunt the red-handed scoundrel | | The accommodations of the Jackpot Inn were not of the most fastidious order, and a bed and a stool comprised the fyrniture of most of the rooms, none of which had as yet been provided with locks, So, on retiring, Dick took the precaution to push his bedstead against the door. This was scarcely necessary, as, had any noc- turnal prowlers desired to gain entrance to the room, they could bave found ready access via the window, which looked out upon the roof of the “‘ lean-to” addition. He had no particular fear of being disturbed, however, and so went to bed and to sleep, know- ing that, being a light sleeper, he would readily awaken, in case there was any intrusion or noise, How long he had been in repose he could form no idea, when he was suddenly aroused by a shake. Quickly sitting up in bed, he was astonished to find that he was not the only occupant of the room. Davis, with the red whiskers, was seated t side the bed, and: one of his cocked revolvers oe leveled full at the astonished detective’s head. ‘* Hello! What the blazes are you doing here?” Dick demanded. “ve come for that boodle!” was the grim announcement. ‘‘ Take care! Don’t move an inch or I'l salivate you! Either I get the boodle, or else I take your life. What's your answer?” ** What boodle do you mean?” ‘©The Kirke fortune.” ‘*Humph! I’ve not got it.” We “You lie! You brought it to Jackpot City Spee } to give it to the Princes; and now, I want 5 it, or, when I leave this room, you will be a corpse!” **T tell you I haven’t got it. You can search my clothes, or the room, if you doubt my veracity.” @ **Maybe you haven’t got it here, but you've’ got it concealed somewhere.” ‘ ‘Supposing I have? Do you think Iam going to tell you where it is?” **Tf you don’t, Pll blow your brains out!” ‘Get out! You ain’t such a fool as that!” Dick retorted, coolly; ‘ for if you were to scat- ter the contents of my cranium about the room and soil old Jackpot’s wooden carpets, what would you gain by it? Nothing! and would bury forever the hope of fingering the Kirke fortune, which you seem to covet.” 3 “I don’t care a cuss what ye say!” Davis” growled. ‘‘If you don’t tell me where the boodle is Pll have the satisfaction of killing you anyhow,” **You will, eh? Jerusalem! but youre a bloody-minded cuss!” “Come! I’ve no time for menkeyin’, Bither you spit out the secret while Vm counting a hundred, or off goes the top of your bead!” “Whew! Can you really count as many as a hundred? I didn’t know you were a college graduate. But, I say, can’t you and I make a bargain?” ** How do you mean?” ‘“* Well, I've learned that Nellie Prince pro- poses to marry Morton Meredith, which is ¢on- trary to the terms of Henry Kirke’s will. Ac- cordingly, I don’t feel so much disposed to give her the fortune as I did. Now, (il admit that you've got the bulge on me; but you might shoot me into grease-spots before I’d give up the whole of the fortune, If the boodle don’t go to the down and put a bullet through his cowardly | girl, balf of it belongs to. me, anyhow, So, if heart)” ‘If you make an attempt on Meredith’s life, you will get yourself into trouble.” ** How so?’ ‘* Because Meredith is my game, I came here for the purpose of arresting bim and turning him over to the care of the Carson authorities, and that I intend to do. Justice will have a deal first, and after it has a chance. your turn will come!” "* Ah! so that’s the how, eb?’ replied Davis, slowly. «‘* Well, solong asI am sure that the accursed villain receives the punishment he de- serves, I reckon I won’t interfere. court tries bim and don’t hang him, why Ill put a bullet through him before he leaves the bar of | | justice!” ‘“* Well, you must act as you seo fit about that,” Dick replied. “Oh, I'll promise that! I am in disguise, and Meredith will not even know that I am in camp.” When they reached the hotel, Dick announced his intention of retiring, and, bidding Davis good-night, sought his room. ~ But if the | | / | youw’re content to accept the other half, why, I reckon we can make a dicker!” ‘* How much will I get?” ** About twenty thousand.” “Allright. Ill take that rather than resort to harsher measures!” Davis accepted. ** Where's the money?” ‘** Not here, get it.” ‘Then get up and dress yourself. But, mind you, [shall plag youif I catch you making a tricky move!” “You needn't. fear. Tsha’n’t take any such risks. What time is it?” ** Tt lacks about an hour of daybreak,” “Then we'll have just about time to get the money, and skip before the camp is astir,” Dick arose, and proceeded to dress himself, which opperation did not require much time. Davis watched his every movement narrowl A and kept bis revolver ready for instant use, in case of emergency, When Bristol was ready, ke Jed the way down- — and the two men cautiously quitted the otel, Ishall have to go with you to of) 4 P) f Fe
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— BY PHILIP 8. WARNE. « aad 198 Captain Mask; or, Patent-Leather Joe’s Defeat. 219 Deapard, the Duelist; or, The Mountain Vempires. 888 A Tough Boy; or, The Dwart’s Revenge. BEB Little Tornado; or, ‘he Outcasts of the Glen. B78 Little Jingo; or, the Queer Pard. 888 Little Oh-my 3 or, Caught in His Own Trap, 41 Little Shoo- Fly 3 or, A Race for a Raneh. 08 Little Leather-Breeches 3 or, Old Jumbo’s Curse. 481 Little Ah Sing or, The Curse of Blood. 451 Colorado Kate. A Tale of the slines. 480 Three Jolly Pards. 517 Jim Giadden’s Deputy. 27 The Jolly Purds to the Rescue. 547 Sandy Andy; or, A Good Man Down. 556 Lariat Lil; or, The Cast for a Life. BY CAPTAIN FRED. WHITTAKER, 15 The Sea-Cat; or, The Witch of Darien. 29 The Dumb Page; or, The Doge’s Daughter, 48 Dick Darling, the Pony Express Rider. 150 Lance and Lasso; or, The Children of the Chaco. 154 The Sword Munters; or, The Land of the Elephant Riders, 159 The Lost Captain; or, Skipper Jabez Coffin’s Cruise to the Open Polar Sea. 200 Th 3 214 Wolfgang, the Robber of the Rhine. 249 Milo Komer, the Animal King; or, The Round the World Wanderer. 265 The Tiger Tamer; or, The League of the Jungle, 881 Black Nick. the Demon Rider. 895 California Joe’s War Trail. BY BUCKSKIN SAM (Major Sam. 8, Mall.) 284 Old Rocky’s “* Boyees;” or, Benito, the Young wa Breaker. 246 Giant George; or, The Ang’! of the Range. 275 Arizona Jack} or, Giant George’s Pard. 297 The Tarantulg of Taox; or, Giant George’s Revenge. 807 The Strange Pard; or, Little Ben’s Death Hunt. 818 Ker-whoop, Ker-whoo; or, The Tarantula of Taos. B27 Creeping Cat, the Cudde 3 or, The Red and White Pards, 882 Frio Fred; or, The Tonkaway’s Trust. 844 The Fighting Trio; or, Rattlesnake, the Tonkaway. B49 Wild Wolf’; or, Big-Foot Wallace to the Front, 857 The Raneh Ralders; or, The Siege of Fort Purgatory. .Shot, the Boy Ranger. bi5 Ohiste, the Oreck? or, The Three Thunderbolts. 881 Bandera Bill; or, Frio Frank to the Front. 892 Romeo and the Reds; er, The Beleaguered Ranch, A04 Little Lartat; or, Pecan Pete’s Big Rampage. 414 The Dalsy from Denver. A427 The Three Trailers; or, Old Rocky on the Rampage. 442 Bali; or, The Lynx of the Leona, 455 Bittle Tone tier i * The Belle of the Cibolo, BY EDWARD WILLETT. 167 Aaa Scott, the Steamboat Boy. 228 Ozark Alf; or, Featherweight Among the Outlaws. 282 The Typo Detective; or, Weasel, the Boy Tramp. 295 Fearless Phil; or, The King of Quartzville. 822 Nemo, the Detective; or, Kit Kenyon's Vendetta, 840 Clip, the Contortionist; or, The Montana Vigilantes. BY J. ©. COWDRICK. 860 Silver-Mask, the Man of Mystery. 869 Shasta, the Gold King; oT, For Seven Years Dead. 420 The Detective’s Apprentices a, A Boy Without N a 424 Cibuta John}: or, Red-Hot Times at Ante Bar. A389 Sandy Sam, the Street Scout. 467 Disco Dan, the Daisy Dude 490 Broadway Billy, the Bootblack Bravo. 506 Redlight Ralph, the Prince of the Road, 414 Breas lade Bilt Be wove 524 The Engineer ective BB8 Broadway Buty’ “piakiisy.* 548 Mart, the Night Express Detective. 357 Broadway Billy’s Death Racket. BY JO PIERCE. ? the Bowery 3 oF, The Prince of Mulberry Street. a5 Pee Vagabond Detective; or, Bowery Bob’s Boom. Bob, the Street-Hey Detective. 40 The awyern Shadow; ¢r, Luke’s Legacy. are Jaunty Joe, the Young Horse-King. 494 Surly Lim. the Young Ferryman Detective, 304 Five Points Phil. the Butcher Boy Detective. st} patter inn; o. Five Points Phil’s Menagerie, ver Nate the Pier Detective. tty Eber his Rex: the Pride of the Sixth Ward, 5Al Jeff Flicker. the a. Boy Detective, bh1 Nick Nettle, the Boy Shadow. 559 Harlem Jack, the Oiice Boy Detective. BY CAPT. MARK WILTON, 256 Young Kentuck: or, The Red Lasso. 270 Blizzard Ben; or, The Riot at Keno Camp. 286 Josh, the Boy Tenderfoot. RY CAPTAIN MAYNE REID. 7S Bine Dick: or, The Yellow Chief's Vengeance. 87 The Land Pirates; or, The League of Devil's Island, 187 The Helpless Hand; or, Backwoods Retribution. 289 The Goli-seeker Guide} or, The Lost Mountain. BY MAJOR HENRY B. STODDARD, Ex-Scout. 806 Neck-Tie Ned; or, The Dog-Out Pards. 846 Rapler Raphael; or, The Swordsmen of Zacatecas, B91 Kid-Glove Kt, the Dandy of the Rockies, BOS Kid-Glove Kit and Pard: or, The Gold King. 406 The Mad Man-Hunter; or, The Mystery of Golden Guleb. 505 Powell's Pard; or, The One- Armed Giant, BY BRACERRIDGE HEMYNG. 89 Ialand Jim: or, The Pet of the Family. 91 The Captain of the Club; or, The Rival Athletes, 101 Jack Markaway in New York, 67 Patent-Leather Joe: or, Old Rattlesnake, the Charmer. 75 Unprnin Arizona; or, Patent-Leather Joe’s Big Game. e Boy Kiedoutna; or, The Brothers of the Plumed Lance, 199 Featherweight the Boy Champion of the Muskingum. 811 The Roving Sport; or, The Pride of Chuckalack Camp, BEADLE’S* H ALF- DIME* LIBRARY. Published Every Tuesday. Each Issue Complete and Sold at the Uniform Price of Five Cents. No Double Numbers. BY ALBERT W. AIKEN, 11 The Two Detectives; or, The Fortunes ofa Bowery Girl. 76 Abe Colt, the Crow-Killer. 79% Sol Ginger, the Giant Trapper. 258 Joe Buck of Angela and His Svy Pard. 447 New York Nat. A Tale of Tricks and Traps in Gotham, 458 New England Nick; or, The Fortunes of a Foundling. 464 Nimble Nick, the Circus Prince. 498 ‘Taos Ted, toe Arizona Sport. 510 Cool Colorado, the Hal!-Breed Detective. 515 Cool Colorado in New York, BY GEORGE WALDO BROWNE. 86 Dandy Rock the Man from Texas. 90 The Dread Rider; or, The Texan Duelist. 99 The Tiger of Tuos; or, Dandy Rock’s Angel. 115 The Mad Miner; or, Dandy Rock’s Drom, 181 The Golden Hand; or, Dandy Reck to the Rescue, 184 Dandy Reck’s Pledge; or, Hunted to Death, 178 Dandy Rock’s Rival; or, The !iaunted Maid of Taos. BY CAPT. J. F. ©. ADAMS. 84 Oregon Sol; or, Nick Whiffies’s Boy Spy. 46 Glass-Eye, the Great Shot of the West. 54 Ned Hazel, the Boy Trapper. 56 Nick Whilffies’s Pet; or, In The Valley of Death. 60 The White Indian; or, The Sceut of the Yellowstone, 70 Old Zip’sa Cabin; or, The Greenhorn in the Woods, 81 Lightning Jo, the Terror of the Prairie. 85 Buck Bueckram; or, Bess, the Female Trapper, 247 Olid Grizzly and His Peta; or, The Wild Huntress, 251 Light-house Lige3 or, Osceola, the Firebrand. 257 The Lost Hunters; or, The Underground Camp. 288 The Sealp King: «rt, The Human Thundervolt, BY ROGER STARBUCK, 25 The Boy Captain; or, The Pirate’s Daughter. 114 The Black Schooner; or, Jib Junk, the Old Tar. 259 The Golden Harpoon; or, Lost Among the Floes. 848 Fire-Meela; or, Old Skinflint, the Death-Shadow, 854 Big Morn Ike, the HHI] Tramp; or, The Odd Pards, 861 The Phantom Licght-house, 870 Breaker Ben, the Reef-Runner. BY WILLIAM R, EYSTER, 190 Pandy Darke} or, The Tigers of High Pine. 210 Faro Frank}; or, Dandy Darke’s Go-Down Pards, BY COLONEL DELLE SARA, 108 The Lion of the Sen; or, The Vailed Lady. 186 Cool Desmond 3 or, The Gambler’s Big Game BY NARRY 8ST. GEORGE. 80 Roaring Ralph Reekwood, the Ranger. 44 Rattling Rube; or, The Nighthawks of Kentucky, 5Y Old Hickory ; or, Pandy Ellis’s Scalp. 108 During Davy ; or, The Trail of the Border Wolf, 166 Hickory Harry; or, The Trapper-Brigade’s Spy, 172 Thunderbolt Tom: or, the Woll-Herder, RY JAMES i. BOWEN 107 One-Eyed Sim: or, The Abandoned Forest Home. 110 The Black Steed of the Prairies, A Story of Texas. BY C. DUNNING CLARK, 185 Captain Paul; or, The Boy Spy of the Mountains. 280 The Yankee Rajah; or, The Fate of the Black Shereef. BY GEORGE C, JENKS. 485 Git Thar Owney the Unknown. 492 Git Thar Owney’s Pledge. 518 The Demon Doctor. BY CAPT. ALFRED B. TAYLOR, TU. 8S. A. 191 Buffalo Billy, the Boy Bullwhacker; or, The Doomed Thirteen. 194 Buffalo Bill's Bet; or, The Gambler Guide. BY CHARLES E. LASALLE. 50 Burt Bunker, the Trapper. 52 The White Buffalo. A Tale of the Northwest BY JONN J. MARSHALL, 40 Roving Ben, A Story of a Young American. 97 The Outlaw Brothers; or, The Captive of the Harpes. BY WM. 6, PATTEN. 489 The Piamond Sport; or, The Double Face of Bed 519 Captain Mystery ; or, Five in One. . 581 Dalsy Dare, the Sport from Denver, BY MAJOR E. L. 8ST. VRAIN, 292 Sancho Pedro, the Boy Bandit. 801 Leadville Nick, the Boy Sport. $ig (etter neta cele cte, matone Hob, sed His Lightning Horse Qu 852 Tombstone Tom, the Arizona Boy of “ a B59 Durance lenve, the Young Shane ion Wrestler, 871 Kingbolt Chria, the Young Hard-Shell Detective. B80 Avalanche Alf, the Foothills Guide. 890 Jaguar Joe, of the Mount:in Mail-Line, BY EDWARD 8. ELLIS, 6 Bill Blddon, Trapper. & Seth Jones? or, The Captives of the Frontier, 10 Nat Todd: or, The Fate of the Sioux Captive. 21 The Frontier Angel. 98 The Boy Miners: or, The Enchanted Island. 182 The Hunted Hunters or, The Strange Horseman, 254 The Half-Blood: or, The Panther of the Plains, 271 The Huge Hunter; or, The Steam Prairie Man, BY MAJOR LEWIS W. CARSON, 278 The Three Tra ray or, The Mountain Monster. 286 Indian Joe; or, RRS White Spirit of the Hilla, BY W. J. HAMILTON, 68 The Red Brdtherhood ; or, The Twelve Avengers. 66 Single Hand; or, A Life for « Life, 72 Mad Tom Western, the Texan Ranger. 87 Ben Bird, the Cave King; or, Big Pete’s Scoop. BY JACK FARRAGUT. 815 Ned, the Cabin Boy. 820 The Sea Sorceress; or, The Boy Skipper. BY FRANK DUMONT. 120 The Branded Hand: or, The Man of Mystery, 127 Wild-Fire, the Boss of the Road. 140 Blue Blazes; or, The Break o’ Day Boys of Rozky Bar, 171 Ebony Dan; or, The Rival Leagues. 185 Evil Eye; or, The Voltores of the Rio Grande, BY LIFUT. H. D. PERRY, U. 8. N. 176 The Boy Runaway: or, The Boceaneer of the Bay. 180 The Sea Trailer; or,,A°Vow Well Kept. 192 Captain Kit; or, The Mystery of Montauk Point. BY HARRY HAZARD. 828 Arkanaaw Jack; or, The Scourge of the Mines. 829 Red-Skin Tomy; or, The Demon's Trail, 842 The Mountain Devil; or, Yellow Jack, the Outlaw. BY COL. A. F. HOLT. 899 Black Buckekin: or, The Masked Men of Death Canyor, 419 Kenneth, the Knife-King. 485Little Lightfoot, the Pilct of the Woods. BY J. W. OSBON. 469 The Rival Giants of Nowhar’, 498 Cactus Burr, the Man from Hard Lack, HRT Old Buckeye, the Slerra Shadow. 564 Powder Phil, the Boy Miner. BY FREDERIOK DEWEY. 818 Cimarron Jack, the King-Pin of Rifle-Shots, A478 Tangemund, the Desert Detective. 542 The Canyon Parda. BY ARTHUR C. GRISSOM. 440 Little Foxfoot, the Gold Bowie Kid. 558 The Sure-Shot Pards, BY LIEUT. A. K. SIMS, 546 Captain Cactus, the Chaparral Cock, 568 The Dandy of Dodge. 569 Brooklyn Ben, the On-His-Own-Hook Detective MISCELLANEOUS AUTHORS, 4 The Wild-Horse Hunters. By Capt. Mayne Reid and Frederick Whittaker. ® Adventures of Baron Munchausen, 12 GuHlliver’s Travels. By Dean swift. 14 Aladdin; or, The Wonderful Lamp. 16 Robinsen Orusoe. (27 Ilustrations.) 18 Sindbad the Sailor, His Seven Voyages. 22 bBo Sea Serpent; or, The Boy Robinson Crusoe, By Juan we wis. 88 The Ocean Bloodhound; ot, The Red Pirates of the Carribeesn. By S, W. Pierce. 86 The Boy Clown; or, The Queen ofthe Arena. By Frank S. Finn. 88 Ned Wylde, the Boy Scout. By Texas Jack. 61 The Boy Rifles; or, The Underground Camp. By Archie C, Irons. 95 The Rival Rovers; or, The Freebooters of the Mississippi By Lieut.-Col. Hazeltine. 98 Robin Hood, the Vutlawed Earl; or, The Merry Men of Green. wood. By Prof. Gildersleeve. 105 Old Rube, the Hunter; or, The Crow Captive. By Captain Hamilton Holmes. 112 The Mad Hunter; or, The Cave of Death. By Burton Saxe. 124 Tippy, the Texan; or, The Young Champion. By George Gleeson. 128 The Young Privateer; or, The Pirate’s Stronghold. By Harry Cavendish. 148 Sharp Sam; or, The Adventures of « Friendless Boy, By J Alexander Patten. x 227 Dusky Darrell, Trapper: or, The Green Ranger of the Yel- lowstone. By Edward Emerson. 261 Fergus Fearnaught the New York Boy. By George L, Aiken. 266 Killb’ar, the Guide; »r, Davy Crockett's Crooked Trail. By Ensign C. D. Warren. 298 Red Claw, the One-Eyed Trapper; or, The Maid of the Clift, By Captain Comstock. 817 Peacock Pete, the Lively Lad from Leadville. By Liew tenant Alfred Thorne. 828 The Sky Ire*ective; or, A Boy's Fight for Lifeand Honos, By Maior Mickey Free. 850 Red Ralph, the River Revers er, The Brother's Re venge. By Ned Bun tline. 865 Baltimore Ben the Bootblack Detective. By A, P. Morris, 874 gore Dast Tomy; or, Ben’s Double Match. By George H, Morse, 76 California Joe’s First Trail, By Colonel Thomas Hoyer Monstery. 418 Billy Bombshell, the Cliff Climber, . By F, 8, Winthrop, 475 The Black Ship. By Jobn 8, Warner. A 484 Comanche Pick and His Three Invincibles, By Henrv J. Thomas. b BLK Wizard Arm, the Dandy Sport, By Arthar F, Holt, B82 The Cowboy Puke. By Edwin Brooke Forrest, BS Ariel, the Athlete. By David Druid, A New Ieaue Every Tnesday. — The Half-Dime Library ‘+ for sale by ail newsdealers Sep eenta per copy, or sent by mail on receipt of alx cents each. BEADLE AND ADAMS, Publishers, “* 95 William Street, New Yoet ? ‘ay 5 ee is Ps s md rr
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TS. » ¢ Deadwood Dick Jr.’s Decree. Bo The month following Jackpot’s return was the third and last of the summer season, and a busy one it was for the nineteen men of the ‘‘ city.” Mining was abandoned, and the time was oc- cupied in building up the town. Timber was abundant on the northern edge of the peninsula, and this the little saw-mill converted into lum- ber, and comfortable shanties went up, taking the place of the canvas habitations, Foreseeing that the future of the camp was likely to draw a swarm of people thither, the General built the hotel, as his own enterprise, so as to have it ready for business. Atfirst he only opened the bar for the dispensation of liquid to the thirsty; and, it may be added, that the pro- prietor was one of his own best customers, John Prince built, stocked and opened a gen- eral supply store, placing bis daughter and niece in charge; then, ten more miners were engaged, and mining was resumed in earnest. o stragglers, up to this time, had wandered into the town, tv carry back to the outer world the secret of Jackpot City’s existencé, and our handful of pioneers Siig wipe themselves that, as winter was not far off, there was little likelihood of an invasion of their domain before the opening of the coming spring. As a necessary precaution against a surprise, however, the cabin was built in Purgatory Pass, at its intersection with the transverse gulch, and telephone eonnection made between it and Jackpot City, the office being in Prince’s store. Tom Prince and a gigantic half-breed named Dave Dodd, or Deadshot Dave, were then laced in chargeof the cabin in the pass, and instructed to exact toll from every one who passed through the gate, and to pass no person on toward tbe mines, who, in their opinion, was an undesirable character. The autumn months were delightful and there was nothing to prevent the miners from putting in full time at gold-gethering; hence the coffers of Jackpot, Avalanche and Co, be- gan to fill up in a way highly satisfactory to the parties interested, In running the toll-gate, Tom Prince and Deadshot. Dave took turns of duty, each being on twelvé hours ata time, viz: If Prince was night watch one week, the following week he was day watch, When either of the men was off duty, he generally put in his time in Jack- pot City. It so happened, one stormy night, at the close of October, when the rainy season was setting in, that the first stranger made his appearance in Jackpot City, without invitation, He was mounted on a fine horse, and, as he came from Purgatory Pass, it was generall presumed that he had been passed as ‘‘all right,” by Tom Prince, who was on night service at the Tollgate. The new-comer was a large, well-proportion- ed man, apparently about forty years of age and not bad-looking, with a full brown beard and mustache, and an intelligent or agreeable countenance—agreeable save one thing, aud that was his eyes, which constantly emitted a restless, snaky glitter that was not pleasant to behold. He was well-dressed, and had the appearance of one who had always been accustomed to good living. The bar-room of the Jackpot Inn contained nearly the whole male element of the town, when the stranger put in an appearance, and asked for aceommodations. ‘‘ Who aire you, an’ what’re ye doin’ in this camp?” demanded the General, who presided behind the bar. ‘‘My name. is Morton,” was the reply in a rather haughty manner, ‘‘and I have come here to look around and perhaps locate,” “Oh! ye have, eh? Well, now, mebbe you'll change your mind when ye find that the prop- erty around heer belongs to asyndicate, an’ there ain’t no room for an outsider to squat!” ‘Ob! I guess it’s not so bad at that!” the stranger replied, coolly. ‘*This young town of yours, whose existence you have so carefully kept a secret from the outside world, is in reality no man’s land, as you have not protect- ed yourselves inthe least, through the required land or mine entry, nor secu your patents from the Government. Consequently, I have as much right here as any of you!” ' This declaration reached the ears of John Prince and Old Avalanche, and they immediate- ly came forward. ‘Did I understand you to intimate that you should remain here, without our sanction?” Prince demanded. **T didn’t say so, in so many words,” Morton answered, ‘‘ but, if you want it straight, I say so, now, I’ve as much right here as you, when Sarr i bo] if I see fit to stay here, 1 shall do so!” ‘‘ We will see about that. I have been ap- pointed marshal of this town, and if you do not take your peaceable departure, I shall see you forcibly ejected!” ‘You are not such a fool as that!” Morton retorted, indifferently. ‘*‘ I am peaceably dis- posed, and think you have common enough to know that it would be better to have me for a friend than as an enemy!” ‘* Ah! you dare to threaten, do you?” ‘Oh! no, not particularly,” Morton replied, stroking his glossy beard, and appearing self- composed. I simply wanted you tocomprehend that Iam a man you can’t bluff worth a cent. I have known of the existence of these mines, and vidual behind the bar returned from Salt Lake City. While in the Mormon city he wason a spree, the better part of the time, and when in his cups, he showed a big nugget of gold around in nearly every place he visited, and he made his brags that he knew where he could get plenty more like it; so when he left Salt Lake, I fol- lowed him, Since that time, from different ele- vated points of observation, I have watched the progress of things, here below, and finally came to the conclusion that it was about time for me to come down and see what kind of a showing there was forme. Sol came. the existence of this New El Dorado, I have kept a still tongue in my head. Had I felt so disposed [ could have gone to other mining-camps and brought a flood of ever-ready stampeders down upon this camp big enough to have filled the whole peninsula. More than that, had I seen fit to go to the pains and expense, I could have legally secured this tract of territory as my own and had youall dispossessed. So you see, my friend, if you insist that [ cannotremain in your camp, why, I am quite willing to leave you for a time, but I am not prepared to say how long I sball be absent.” Jackpot, Avalanche and Prince now saw that they had made an egregious error in not making the custemary entry with the Government, and had rendered themselves liable to heavy penal- ties and ejectment. They certainly were in this Morton’s power, for if they further incurred his enmity, not only could he bring Government trouble upon their heads, but he could betray the existence of Jackpot City tothe world at large, the inevitable rush would follow, and riches would be wrenched from the partners’ grasp. There was but one thing to do, for self-pro- tection, and that was done, A meeting was held that night by the com- pany, and Owen Morton was admitted to a part- nership equal to that of the others, After that, all went on smoothly for a couple of weeks, and then there came more trouble. Morton suddenly disappeared from the town one night, leaving no word whither he was go- ing, or when he expected to return. bis caused his partners considerable surprise and anxiety, which became intensified to ac- tual alarm when it was discovered, the follow- ing morning, that poor Tom Prince had been foully murdered during the night at the Toll- gate, where he had been on night duty. For weeks, afterward, the excitement was at boiling heat; the guard at the gate was treb- led, and extra precautions taken against a sur- rise, But a month passed, and nothing was seen or heard of Owen Morton. Winter set in, and the denizens of Echo Can- yon began to breathe freer, as it was prophesied that there would be no trouble before spring opened, But, that was where the mistake occurred, The blow came when least expected, and watch- fulness had grown lax. For one stormy morning the citizens of Jack- pot City were aroused from their slumbers by the startling intelligence that over two hun- dred Mormons with their families had invaded the peninsula, bag and baggage, and taken pos- session of the town. And this proved to be correct, Two hundred resolute, well-armed men there were, the most of whom had a plurality of wives, and the whole under the leadership of their al- leged prophet and elder, Morton Meredith, in whom the citizens of Jackpot had no difficulty in recognizing Owen Morton, although his face was now as smooth as a woman's, Well, to make the remainder of our retrospect brief, the Mormons took possession of every- thing, Meredith produced papers to prove that he and his flock had made a purchase of the Gov- . { it comes to the legal aspect of the question, and | sense | their wealth, ever since that bald-headed indi- | ** Now, sir, during the time I have known of | =] 3 ernment of a thousand acres of land, encom- pains Jackpot City and a portion of Purgatory ass, and bad conformed with all the require- ments of the statutes. Meredith at once notified Jackpot, Avalanche and Co, that he was henceforth ruler of the town, and it would be governed on Mormon principles, If they preferred to reinain, as laborers, he would allow them to retain their habitations, and the General could keep his hotel by yielding half the net profits to Meredith. Our pioneers smarted bitterly under this new order of things, but after a secret consultation, resolved to remain for a while, at any rate. The Tollgate was left in charge of Deadshot Dave, as agent for the Morn-:on ruler, who, of course, took the receipts, and thus it was that Meredith had succeeded in estat lishing a_ little monarchy of his own in the heart of the Hum- boldt Mountains, The winter months were mostly devoted to improvements, preparatory to un active mining campaign on the opening of spring. Sbanties, stores, saloons, a Mormon church, a stamp-mill and numerous other enterprises were established under Meredith’s rule, and over alk the Mormon influence prevailed. The three pards and their friends were forced to adopt many of the ordinances of the Latter- Day Saints, particularly as regarded attending church, and obedience to the commands of the Elder, as Meredith was known. Of course the little bard of Gentiles chafed under this order of things, but, the truth be known, they were only biding their time, for the end was not yet. ‘* Be firm, boys, and be patient, for our turn is yet to come!” John Prince would say to his flock, as when, by prearranged signals, they would be called into secret conclave in the dead hours of night. ‘‘ We can’t strike yet, but our chance will come, and then we wiJl] cause an in- surrection that will sweep these Mormon devils into the waters of Cyclone Creek, and Jackpot City shall be our own again.” This feeling among the Gentiles gradually grew so intensified, that it became a mania with them, and they stood ready for bloodshed at a mo- ment’s notice. Thus the winter passed, and spring opened up warm and glorious, rich alike with nature’s floral offerings and nature’s promises of golden gain. Which brings up to the opening proper of our story. CHAPTER II. THE SAD TRIALS OF OLD AVALANCHE, THE spring of 188— was anearly one. The snow having disappeared in March, except on the mountain-tops, and then followed a long spell of bright, warm weather, that brought forth the grass and foliage, in great luxuriance, and, a little later, the mountsin-sides became covered with spring flowers, whose bright colors and fragrance Jackpot City gct the full benefit f. Mining had been resumed in dead earnest, and the output surpassed the expectations of even the most sanguine, so that Morton Meredith could lay back in his easy-chair, in bis snug, well-appointed cottage, and see the wealth rok. ing in upon him by the hundreds of dollars per ay. Meredith, by the way, was unmarried, but this did not conflict with his Mormon views, and on the first of April every man in the camp, except himself and one other, was ordered to take unto himself a wife, or undergo twe weeks’ imprisonment in a rocky dungeon in the moun- tain-side, that had been specially prepared for the purpose, without food or water. As there was not one man out of a thousand who could endure the punishment, April Ist was, accordingly, a wedlock day, all of the former male founders and settlers of the little town being forced to “hitch up” in Benedictine traces, except one. Our friend General Jackpot, was fortunate enough to get a comely-looking woman, who was possessed of a business mind, and who set about at once, putting the Jackpot Inn into order, Poor Old Avalanche, however, hero of hun- dreds of well-won battles, was not so fortu- nate. A long, lank, scraggy, vinegar-tempered virago was put off on hin, whodies Shoat among the Mormons as ‘Sal Slap, the Scrap- en She was of prodigious strength despite er lank, lean appearance, and freely
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. that. Podesta whistled. “*T don’t believe it!” be declared. ‘‘ The gal hates him worse than Satan hates holy water.” “That makes no difference. The girl is going | by the Lanches, and after some parley, s Deadwood Dick Jr.’s Decrée. CHAPTER XI. DEADWOOD DICK’S DECREE. AFTER parting with Nellie Prince, Dick Bris- tol made his way direct to the shanty oc vay ceed- to marry him, just the same, for | heard her say | ed in gaining an audience withSal Samantha so. She is to come into a big fortune, in a few days, and it is with the expectation of getting a grab at this that Meredith is marrying her!” ‘* Where’s the fortune comin’ from?’ ‘*From this man Bristol, who was sent here to disburse the money until he succeeds in libe ating John Prince. See?’ “Yes, Go on.” : ‘* Well, our business is to get this forftine be- fore thé girl gets it; then, after agp 3 it, we can inform the other Mormons of Meredith’s proposed treacbery, and if they’vé got any grit in them, they’! make it hot for-him!” ‘You can bet they will , stand in~his s “No! a different plan mfist This. fellow, Bristol_.is*by no anéans°a greenhorn and it’s safeto S too sharp. to be found with the boodle about bis person. He has it concealed somewhere, and only by.b6- ‘pursued, thart / coming on intimate terms with,him do Lhope to | learn where it is hidden, ‘** So listen, and I will tell you my plans, A coupleof years ago, I traveled a brief term with a snap dramatic troupe playing the min- ing-camps. The troupe bu’sted, and, to get my pay, I seized. the wardrobes, some of which are very fine. I shall now disguise myself as a roughly dressed, red-whiskered miner, and pre- tend to be a Mormon from Salt Lake, named lke Davis. You are to watch a favorable op- portunity, and, together with a couple of your pals, make a sham attack on Bristol, taking care to use no weapons, I wilkrush to the res- cue, and drive you off, at the point of the pistol. Of course Bristol will thank me for the interfer- ence, and in this way I shall play my’eards to his further acquaintance, and endeavor to the hiding-place of the boodle. If I am not suc- cessful in this plan, why, it will be time enough to adopt other measures,” ‘*T dunno whether ['m counted in for this racket, or not,” Podesta said, rather dubiously, as he passed his band over his left optic, which was still ‘‘ indisposed,” as a result of a contact with Deadwocd Dick’s fist, ‘* That cuss strikes out harder than a mule can kick, and he may salivate us with cold lead, if we go for him!” ‘*Pshaw! are you afraid? Why, three of you ought to keep him too busy to draw a weapon, uutil I rush in, as peacemaker, and separate ou! ‘‘Humph! How are we to be sure you will be around, at the time?” ‘Ob! TH be on band, never fear!” ‘‘ Well, supposing I agree to this proceeding, what am I to get?” ‘‘ When we have succeeded in getting the money, you will get half.” ‘‘ How much will that be?” ‘‘T .don’t know, but probably a couple of thousand dollars,” “ All right. I’m your honeycomb for any such sum as that, you bet. When will you be ese “] will get ready during the day, but the at- tack had better not be made before night.” Correct. To-night it shall be, then. Til et Hookey Ben and Jim Crow to help me. S pose ye won't object if we punch the fellow’s head fer him?” **No, I’ve no particular objections to that, but no other weapons than your fists must be used, Ba all ready, as soon as itis dark, and if ou catch Bristol on the street, go for bim, and Twill be on hand to act my part. time let whisky alone, so you will be in con- dition for the work abead of you. I must be going now, but will depend on you to-night.” “All right. You'll not be disappointed,” Podesta responded, and then the unscrupulous young woman hastened away toward the Prince cot le “Tf the plan works, and I get my hands on the money, who shail say my triumph is not reat?’ she thought, exultantly. ‘It will then 2 I who will be the dictator, and oh! won’t I make Morton Meredith regret the choice he has made, and playing false to me?” In the mean | | | | stop ghake, why they’ll—welll I ywonildn’t like to How, 5 are we to get at-this fortune? Is it-accase®t a? Vv | and her ‘‘reformed” spouse, the yeteran An- nibilator. Avalanche, now divested of his'snit of broad- cloth, and in lieu thereof wearing’ one of Sas mantha’s wrappers, ofvtleansing the familyUinen, and his appear- ance was so truly thdiéxods, / that-Peadwood Dick could not Welp roaringYwith4aughter./ 7 /** By Jove! Avalanche, youtook (like-a-reathen Chinee, except.yoyflack thé pig- \\ tail,” he saluted. J ewe! janes Wass than "se" time to San#h tells me 6c’ Mormon, Great ham-bonet J} feel-ter one er In» this” Dreakin’ tie -iDe yearrold: steer what he jwants ter take ther pree- myur_atther’countpy fair. graduated.@n this line, she’s‘goin’ ter Varn yer oldATinibvator how ter knit quadrille socks. Tell-y6 what, me béyée, if she’s anything sbe’s a hustler, is thetsamie Jéetle child bride of mine.” ‘* You Avalangte, if you don’t’shet up your Samantha, giving the Annililator a look that would have wilteda mulleinAStalk. ‘* Now then, Mr. Deadwoad Dick, ef you’ve got any bizness here, as you Say, spit it ovt, or else pick up your feet and git !” “Yea, Dicky!” put in Avalanche, dolefully, ‘*TIf you have no business here, you’d better waltz hence, for ef ye don’t, Sal Samantha will waltz you, as sure’s a ham-bone discombobbe- rated ther terrestrial gravitation of old Joner.” “Tf you two pillars of the Mormon Church will give me your attention, I will proceed to unfold to you a revelation that will measure thirty-six inches to the yard,” Dick replied. Accordingly, he proceeded to explain the mo- tive of his visit to Jackpot City, what he had Jearned since his arrival, and what his plans e for the future. he had expected, the narration excited the interest of both the Annihilator and his wife—so much so, as regards the latter, that she forgot to admonish Avalanche to stick to his work at the washtub, ‘* By cracky! I bad no ideer vou wes sech a peart young chap!” Sal declared, when Dick had finished. ‘‘ You’ve got a level head on ye, Young man, an’? I hope you’il make Morton feredith dance till the last fiddle-string is bu’sted. I allus know’d he was a snake in the grass—an’ so’s all the Mormon tribe, fer that matter. I shouldn’t never have j'ined ’em only I was’ @ poor, friendless waif o’ the world, an’ wanted @ husband to shoulder my sorrers and responsibilities thr’w’ life. I was told if I j'ined the Mormons I would be pervided with a bus- band, and, sure enough, I corraled old man Lanche. He warn’t exactly to my suitin’, but he’s better than no support at all, and I expect to make something of him by application and perseverance, Ina couple of years’ time 1 hope to have him trained down to such a point that he’ll be about as perfect as a common-bred human can be made.” ‘* Yes, Dicky, me boyee, Sarah does not pre- varicate when she makes tivat assertion!” the Annihilator groaned. ‘In two years more she’ll have me trained down to such a nicety that there will not be enough left of me to make a shadder on a sunny day; and if you ever hap- pen to see a pair of wings cavortin’ along through the ethereal vastness, you will sit ye down and reflect that et war all that aire left o’ ther once famuss Terrific Triangle.” Dick tarried but a sbort time at the shanty home of the strangely-matched couple, but in so time he succeeded in enlisting them in his plans, He then returned to the hotel. About mid-afternoon he once mere quitted the hotel, and awaiting a favorable opportu- nity, stealthily left Echo Canyon by the way of Purgatory Pass, Once within the confines of this gloomy hall- way of nature, he struck out for the Tollgate still presided over by Deadshot Dave, in the in- terests of Meredith. The horses belonging to the denizens of Jack- pot City frequently wandered into the Pass, and Dick soon came across his own animal, which recognized him with a whinny. us I ver_bis undergarments/ with it, to give it to the girl, but, he isnot going was engaged at a wasbktab,in the arduous ta / After she gits me | yawp, Pll fire‘askillet at you,’’ vociferated Sal | 11 Mounting, without saddle or bridle, he dashed up the gulch at a swift gallop, and soon reached the gate. As he dismounted, the door of the cabin open- ed, and Deadshot Dave made his appearance; und from the fact that the two men shook hands, it was evident they were not strangers. Well, Dick, what’s the best word? I was ginning to fear you had got into trouble,” ‘Deadshot said, as the two seated themselves on p-rustic bench, by Oh, no; I'm alive and kicking,” was the reply. ‘‘ Have you heard from Carson?” “* Yes, Gray Eagle returned last night, with Aa letter from Captain Kramer, who says he will arrivg-tiere with a couple of Carson detectives, somé time to-morrow. A colony of miners, from points between here and Carson, will ar- rive a few days later. How are matters in Jackpot?” ‘* Everything will be ready for the capture of Meredith, Thursday night, providing Kramer arrives all right.” “Ob! he will be here, without a doubt, for he hasn’t any too much money, and the liberal offer of the. Carson authorities will be an incentive toward hurrying bim up.” ‘*T hope so. Has a man known as Jockey Sam passed this place, since morning?’ ‘* Yes, Hewas bound for Lawson’s Ranch, after a mir‘ster, he said.” . ‘Ah! all right. We'll treat Mr. Morton Meredith to a surprise, Thursday nigbt, which I don’t think he will fail to appreciate if not enjoy.” **Do you anticipate that the Mormons will kick up a fuss, when you arrest Meredith?” *“*] don’t know, The arrest will be made as quietly as possible, but if I see there is to be any trouble, I will have him taken out of camp, un‘ler the cover of darkness. I think, however, that: my bulletin will bave an effect to change their feelings somewhat toward Meredith, for I reckon, they won’t want to stick to bim, at the risk of getting strung up. Have you got the bulletin ready?’ ‘* Yes; do you want to see it?” Lad Yes,” ‘* All right. Come inside. It’s all ready for you, when you want to take it away.” Accordingly, the two men entered the cabin. Fastened to the rough, unplastered wall, was a piece of muslin, reaching from the roof to the floor, and about three or four feet in width, This cloth, with the aid of paint and brush, had been skillfully lettered, and contained the fol- lowing proclamation: “DEADWOOD DICK’S DECREE! “To whom it may concern :— “Having thoroughly investigated the matter to which this order refers, and found in existence a hotbed of vice and immorality cloaked under the guise of Mormonism, but wi'h which the Mormon Church of Utah has no connection: “Tr:s 1s Te Certiry, that I. Deadwood Dick, Prince of Purgatory Pass. do hereby decree that this settlement, known as Jackpot City. shall cease to exist as such, on and after the first Friday after the public display of this bulletin, and shall there- after be governed by the law-abiding Gentiles. “Warning is therefore given the followers of Mor- ton Meredith to immediately and rs ceably leave Echo Canyon, or else forswear all allegiance to Mormonism and return to the Gentile faith. AN persons found in Jackpot City at noon of the day this decree goes into effect, who do not wear a red ribbon about their throats, as a pledge that they in- tend in future to lead the lives of Gentiles and law- abiding citizens, will be arrested and forced to work out aterm of servitude in the mines All persons not desirous of remaining under Gentile rule, can now leave for other parts, but before issuing through the gates of Purgatory Pass, will be forced to give up ali uncoined gold or silver in their pos- session, which will be turned over to the Gsvern- ment, by me its duly empowered agent. “This decree applies to every person now in Jackpot City, with the single exception of Meredith, who will be turned over to the authorities of Carson City, to answer to the charge of murder. “The terms of this decree will be enforced to the letter, and Jackpot City will hereafter be known by another name. “By order of ** Deapwoop Dick, * Prince of Purgatory Pass.” ‘© There! how does that suit you?’ Deadshot Dave asked, pointing to his work proudly. ‘* Tt’s justas I want it!” Dick replied. ‘* You are an artist, Dave, and I'll see that you’re well paid for this work,” ‘* Will you take it with you now?” ‘*No. Ihaven’t time to bother with it now. You can bring it as faras the mouth of the pass, an hour before daybreak to-morrow morning, and I will be there to meet you. We will then post it in a prominent place before the town is
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Deadwood Dick Jr.’s Decree, that she could lick any galoot in the camp, tooth, tongue, or toe-nail. The only man who refused positively to take a Mormon wife, was John Prince, and he was promptly cast into the dungeon, there to remain without food or drink, until] the expiration of the fourteen days, when, if he still refused to marry, he was to be banished from the camp. Prince did not flinch in the least, but bidding good-by to his daughter and niece, entered the dark, dank dungeon, whose exact location was known to but two persons—Mort Meredith and his “‘heeler” Paul Podesta—there to remain, until death, most likely, would claim him. Meredith’s tyranny did not ena here. He issued strict orders that no one be admitted to Jackpot City via the Tollgate of Purgatory Pass, who would not sign a promise to join the Mormon faith and adhere to its requirements, If a person gained access to the town without the “sign” of acquiescence, which consisted of a triangular piece of flat stone about 3x3x3 inches in size, he was to be tried by a special tribunal, and a disposition made of him or her,” as the case might be. It so happened, that one evening about half- st eight, a stranger was discovered saunter- ing along the main street, in fact, the only street in Jackpot City. Just when he bad come, or where he had come from, no one was prepared to say, for telephone communication with the Tollgate failed to es- tablish the fact that be had corre by that route, as no one answering to his description had passed through the gate. Hence, there was a mystery, and Paul Po- desta at once communicated the fact to his maaster, **Some strolling vagabond, I presume,” Mere- dith observed, as he idly sipped his evening tea. ‘* Simply keep an eye on him, and I will see him later, before I retire.” In the mean time, the stranger sauntered back and forth along the single street of the town, which was fringed on one side with stores, dwellings, and so forth, and on the other side by the madly-rushing waters of Cyclone Creek, which swept around the peninsula’s point with & never-ceasing roar, The night was one of the balmiest in early April, and the moon had soared high enough in the heavens to send a flood of hght into Echo Canyon and upon the young city. The saloons were well patronized, and nearly the whole population were out of doors, saun- tering about, and, to all, the stranger was an object of much curiosity and interest. e was of medium build, with a trim, athblet- ic figure, whose ‘‘ points ” denoted both strength and agility; his face was round, pleasant and intelligent, the cheeks glowing with the tinge of excellent health. His eyes were keen and brilliant; his hair was worn long down over his shoulders, while a graceful mustache adorned his upper lip. Not a man was there in Jackpot City who could *‘ hold a candle to him” in point of good looks, and numerous maidens fair abroad that night were by no means blind to the fact. e stranger was attired in a suit of light colored woolen goods that fitted him perfectly, wore a white shirt and collar, a jaunty mat de = lab and a pair of patent-leather top- This completed his make-up, except for a gold-headed cane he twirled in his hand as he walked along. In one of his strolls to and fro, he suddenly found himself confronted by Paul Podesta. Podesta was a burly six-footer, of dark, ugly visage, and had won the reputation of being a hard man to handle. If report went for anything, he had formerly been a Danite leader during the reign of terror in and about Salt Lake City, and a bloodthirsty one at that. There was a wicked gleam, too, in his eyes as, with arms akimbo, he confronted the stran- ger and thus saluted him: ** Lookee heer, boss! I would like to know who you aire, before you go gallivantin’ ‘round this town any longer!” **' You would? Well, I don’t know that I am under obligations to satisfy your curiosity. Who are you?” ‘Pm Podesta, and I’m the marshal an’ bull police force of this town combined, as you'll mighty quick find ont, if you don’t shout out your name and tell what your business is here!” ‘So, that’s the way of it, eh?’ and the =. coolly twirled his mustache. ‘‘ Sup- s¢ I don’t see fit to reveal my name?” ‘* Then I'll arrest and imprison you.” “I reckon not, Joknny. I ain’t taking ar- rests so freely, now, as I once did. If you don’t want your skull cracked, have the kindness to step out of my way.” Podesta did not budge, but stared at the other in astonishment. “Ye dare me?” he finally roared. **IT told you to step out of my way,” wus the cool reply. ‘* Are you going to get /” ‘* No!" thundered Podesta, ‘* but i’m going to yank you in, all the same,” and he laid hold of the stranger’s left arm. Better not to have done so, for almost simul- taneously with his grip, the stranger’s iron-like fist caught him between the eyes and sent him tumbling to tle ground in an insensible condi- tion, This little incident caused a crowd to collect, but paying no attention to it, the stranger mounted the steps of the piazza of the Jackpot Inn, and entered the bar-room. As he did so be received a+ hearty slap upon the shoulder, while a joyful voice sung out: ** By ther great ham-bone that discombobber- ated ther reflections of old Jonah! Et’s Dead- wood Dick, sure’s I'm alive sinner, Jumpin’ Jericho! how do ye sagaciate, Dicky, old eet he new-comer turned in surprise, to find himself confronted by the-Great Annihilator— the veritable Old Avalanche. “What, you, Avalanche? Jove! but this is a surprise,” and the famous sport-detective seized the veteran’s extended hand warmly, “¢ ‘What on earth brings you into this Mormon den? ** Dicky, me boy, I war one o’ the founders o’ this hyer town, but thet war before the Mor- mons cum an’ overpowered us an’ tuk teetotal pursession, Et war me an’ my two pards, who fu’st discovered ther auriferous hyer, but we’ve hed to give it up to these Mormon spawn of Satan, an’ we’re now their slaves: Great ham- bone! Who'd ever thort thet ther great cavort- in’ Injun epidemic would ’a’ come to this?” And the Annihilator wiped away an imaginary tear. ‘* Well, old friend, I’m sorry to bear that you're in trouble,” Deadwood Dick replied. ** Pd sort of lost track of you, and did not know as I’d ever run across you again, Why, you’ve changed wonderfully since I saw you last.” ‘* Grown older, bey?” ‘™“EYes; and you look as if you’d seen some hard times.” ’ “Sof have, Dicky, me boy, soI have! First, I’ve lost my two old side-pardners, who did so much toward makin’ ther Terrific Triangle famuss, Yas, both Prudence Cordelia and me William-goat have gone to that bourne whence none returneth, an’ et c’ar knocked the heart o’ mine lop-sided ter part wi’ ’em, you kin bet. But thet loss warn’t-ace-high ter a full hand ter ther affliction ’m now bowed down with.” ‘No? Well, I’m sorry to hear that, Ava- lanche. You've surely seen enough ups and downs in the past, that your old age ought to be blessed with peace and comfort,” Dick returned, ‘* What's the nature of your new affliction, may I ask?” ‘*Great ham-bone, then you haven’t heerd about it, hey? Oh! et’s suthin’ wuss’n the small- xor ther yeller janders, You haven’t seen er, then?” “ Her ?” ‘* Yas, her! ther rip-snortin’, tearin’, swear- in’ triple tornado, that shrieks slaughter, and veanicks fire and fury! That’s her, only ten times wuss! Oh, Lordy! just wait till ye see her!” ** But, see here, whom do you refer to by her ? I don’t comprehend your meaning, Avalanche?” **Ye don’t, eh? Waal, mebbe not. That’s because ye ain’t seen her, No, ye ain’t seen her yet, fer ef ye had, yer comprehension would be as clear as crystal!” the old man said, slowly, and then relapsing into silence, ‘*Humph!” Dick said, considerably puzzled by his old partner’s actions, ‘‘I don’t see but what I’m as much in the dark as ever, and hanged if I ain’t inclined to believe that either you’re in love, or else you’re out of your head. { rather think it’s a love affair, eh? I say, Alva, is she a beauty?’ The old man shrugged his shoulders, and gave a shiver of disgust. “A beauty ?” he grunted, ‘ Jumpin’ Jeri- cho! anything but that. Dicky, me boy, I ain’t a mylionair, ner nothin’ o’ ther sort, but I bave a comfortable boodle put away, an’ I’m willin’ to bet every red of it that ve can’t find an — virago "twixt hyer an’ Halifax then thet selfsame old termagant, Mrs. Old Avalanche!” ““Mrs, Old Avalanche?” echoed Dick, in genuine astonishment—Mrs. Old Avalanche! Why, in the name of all that’s wonderful, you don’t mean to tell me you’ve been, gone and got spliced, old man?” ‘* Perzactly and pos’tively,” the Annibilator grimly assented. ‘Tied up tighter than a ten- pound brick. Yes, me boy, yer old man is no longer a ragin’ epidemic o’ demoliticn—no longer a double-action disaster to the evil ¢« «rs, but, behold! he stands before you a marty: io myrmidon machinations of Mormon rule, ©] tm a slave—a poor old wreck of a once booming blizzard, bowed down, cowed down, and irte- trievably tied to the epron-strings of a she cata- mount, who makes me toe the mark, and dance juba, without even sv much as the music of an old, squawkin’ bull-fiddle. Ah, bum!” and the Annibhijator heaved a deep sigh, and this time wiped away a genuine tear. As for Deadwood Dick, he could not refrain from an outburst of laughter: ‘* Well, Pil be shot ifthat don’t teat t} deck,” he ejaculated. ‘Just to think that 4,” old rascal like you, now nearly a se; tuagena- rian, should enter into the supreme state of matrimony. It’s the richest thing out.” ‘ Oh, ye needn't lavgh, fer it ain’t no Jeffin? matter!” the Annihilator protested. ‘Great ham-bone! d’ye s’pose ther great main sj oke 07 ther Terrific Triangle w’u’d’a’ hitched up wi? ary petticoater, ef he hadn’t bin forced to? No, sir-ee! bob-tail burro, I tell ye thet we Gen- tiles war forced to marry, or stand imprison- ment fer a bull fortnight, without fcod or. water, So all of us war hitched up, ’cept one o° my pards, an’ he’s in prison now, fer refusin’ to obey the mandate, Ther rest o’ ther boys fared» better than me, ’cause they were given pretty tolerable fair sort o’ weemen. Even old General Jackpot get a wide-awake sort of a bizness shemale; but, alas! it was my sad lot to have the worst vixen on God’s footstool saddled off on me, Jest wait till ye see her, me boyee, an”! ef ye don’t say that she who war Sal Slap, be- . fore I married her, aire ther wu'st case 0” Heleublazes you ever see’d, you kin hev what’s left o’ me skulp what the red-skins didn’t tecb, years ago.” ‘“*Pshaw! you don’t mean to tell me it’s as bad as that do you, old man? Sure the famous Annibilator would not submit to being hen- pecked by anything that wears calico?” “Submit! henpecked! Great ham-bone that caused the last sickness of old Joner!” the vet- eran ejaculated, ‘‘ henpecked ain’tno name for it! Me boyee, I tell ye ther truth, I don’t own’ so much as a cent’s worth o’ stock in my bull? consarned carcass, She’s supreme ruler of all that’s left o’ this roarin’ Injun epidemic. By) day I have to work in the mines, like an ordina- >») — ry mortal, an’ turn over my wages to her. She |. makes me sweep the house, wash the dishes ar? comb her grizzly ba’r; [ hev to go to bed whe ever she sez so; she restricts me tew two pip an’ one chaw o’ terbaccy a day, makes mesa my catechism, and teetotally abstain from’ my — once favorite three fingers of Red Eye. Snortin’ | salamanders! ef she war ever tér catchme h’ist / in’'a dose of bug-juice tew my bugletrap, 14 wouldn’t have no use for a chair for a week. Ob! she’s a screamer, an’ no mistake, and yer old pard is no longer a livin’ reality—nothin’ but a grim shadder o’ remorseless fate. ** Ah, Dicky, it’s lucky ye don’tknowall, Et’s lucky yer not hitched up along wi’ sech a cavortin’ cyclone o’ concentrated cussedness. Why, bh Dain b’lieve it, the old fury sez that when I shuffle off this mortal coil she’s goin’ ter have me cremated, and sell’my ashes for cock- roach exterminator!” “2. “IT hardly think the supply would meet the demand,” Dick laughed. ‘* But, come along, Avalanche, and have a smile with me, for the sake of old times.” “* Dicky, my boyee, I darsn’t /” the Arni- hilator impressively declared, as he glanc nervously about, “If I war to imbibe a tast of licker, that pullet of mine would know it afore” ther ticklin’ sensation had got out o’ my throat, an’ then I'd get one of thunderin’est mautin’s, > man every had, an’, ten to one, she’d maké me: go to bed, and stay there fora week without a) morsel to eat or drink,” Us, h ““Pshaw! nonsense! I won't allow you to.b so chicken-hearted. All’s the matter with yout is the lack of a sufficient amount of stimulant to brace you up. help you to assert your indepen~ )) dence; then ll guarantee the weaker member". °. of the family won’t boss you around so much?” ‘* Weaker! Oh! Lord! If she only waswveak?™.’ the Annibilator groaned, as he permittéd him+) self to be dragged up to the bar. “TI b to’ admit, Dicky me daisy, that a litttle.o’ the am= ber would strengthen me up a_ bit, an’ I-shouk®? be only tew hilariously happy to b’ist to yen” health, ef I warn’t afeard o’ Sal makin’ et on
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\Y ; . A MY AMD. AMAA MNO et A elo ER Te: Lae TED + Ie (i [lt it nt! nt! LL tL / : : | | | _Copyright, 1888 by BEADEE AND ADAMS, | } November 13, 1888. $2.50 PUBLISHED WEEKLY BY BEADLE AND ADAMS, ag Pri “N No. 590. a Year. No, 98 WILLIAM STREET, NEW YORK. # 5 Cents. Vol, XXUT. ———$>$$—$—— 7 tha fs. Faizaiy =5 —~ \\ DEADWoobp Dicks DECREE, a WHOM IT May CONCERN \ Having THOROUGHIL Y INVESTIGATES Tue! [= A To WHICH tH1< % EO THE) =e VUNG A Vinny 5S REFERS vA \eX| bide ‘3 WOT BIE Aemat Tu “3s Ne NOV Be WHAM i 39 3 =? OR, The Prince of Purgatory Pass, A Story Of the Rise and Fall ‘of Jackpot City, BY EDWARD L. WHEELER, AUTHOR OF THE ** DEADWOOD DICK” NOVELS, ‘‘ DEADWOOD DICK, JR.,” NOVELS, ‘' ROSE- BUD ROB” NOVELS, *‘ DENVER DOLL ” NOVELS, ETO, CHAPTER I. CONCERNING THE RISE OF JACKPOT CITY. In a deep, gloomy canyon, that traverses the Humboldt Mountains in a northward and south- erly direction, and situate upon a peninsula, or bar of land, bordered, in the background, by WHEN THE PEOPLE OF JACKPOT CAME FORTH, AND, ONE AFTER ANOTHER, READ DEADWOOD DICK’S DECREE, THERE WAS NO END TO EXCITEMENT AND CONSTERNATION,
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BEADLE'S+«H ALF- DIME* LIBRARY. Published Every Tuesday. Each Issue Complete and Sold at tne Uniform Price of Five Cents. No Double Numi e co | BY EDWARD L. WHEELER. Deadwood Dick Novels, 1 Deadweod Dick, the Prince of the Road. 20 Double Daggers; or, Deadwood Dick’s Defiance. 28 Buffalo Ben; or, Deadwood Dick in Disguise. 85 Wilda Ivan, the Boy Claude Duval. 42 Phantom Miner; or, Deadwood Dick’s Bonanza, 49 Omaha O11; or, Deadwood Dick in Danger. 57 Deadwood Dick’s Eagles; or, The Pards of Flood Bar. 78 Deadwood Dick on Deck; or, Calamity Jane, the Heroine. 77 Corduroy Charlie; .or, Deadwood Dick’s Last Act, 100 Deadwood Dick In Leadville, 104 Deadwood Dick’s Device; or, The Double Cross Sign. 109 Deadwood Dick aa Detective. 129 Roadwend Dick’s Double; or, The Ghost of Gorgon’s wica. 188 Blonde Bill; or, Deadwood Dick’s Home Base. 149 A Game of Gold; or, Deadwood Dick’s Big Strike. 156 Deadwood Dick of Deadwood; er, The Picked Party. 195 Deadwoed Dick’s Dream; or, The Riv»ls of the Road. 201 The Black Hille Jezebel; or, Deadwood Dick’s Ward. 205 Deadwood Dick’s Doom; or, Calamity Jane’s Last Ad- venéure. 217 Captain Crack-Shot, the Girl Brigand. 221 Sugar-G@oated Sam}; or, The Black Gown. 282 Gold-Duast Dick. A Rommuce of Rough« and Toughs, 268 Deadwoed Dick’s Divide; or, The Spirt of Swamp Lake. 268 Deadwood Dick’s Death Trail 809 Deadwood Dick’s Big Deal; or, The Gold Brick of Jeeggon, 821 Deadwood Dick’s Dozen; or, The Fakir of Phantom Flats. 847 Deadwood Dick’s Ducats; or, Rainy Days in the Dig- gings. 851 Deadwood Dick Sentenced; or, The Terrible Vendetta. 862 Deadwood Dick’s Claim; or, The Fairy Face of Faro ats, 405 Deadvrood Dick in Dead City. 410 Ronevecs Dick’s Diamonds; or, The Mystery of Joan ‘urter. 421 Deadwood Dick in New Yorks or, A “ Cute Case.” 480 Deadwood Dtck’s Dust ¢ or, The Chained Hand, 448 Beadwood Dick, Jr. 4418 Nickel-Plate Ned; or, Deadwood Dick Jr’s Defiance. 458 Sunflower Sam, of Shasta; or, Deadwood Dick Jr’s Full Hand, 459 Plush Fan, the Ferret; or, Deadwood Dick Jr’s Big Ronnd- 465 Philo Fly, of Phenix; or, Deadwood Dick Jr’s Racket at avi Claim 16. ozeman Bill; or, Deadwood Dick Jr’s Corral. 476 vores Marry, the Hurricane; or, Deadwood Dick Jr’s wtective, 481 Moll My atery; or, Deadwood Dick Jr. in Deadwood, 491 Prince Pistol, the King of the West; or, Deadwood Dick Jr’s Comrpact, 496 Monte ity oy aa or, Deadwood Dick Jr’s Inheritance. Die nge ; or, Dr, Death-Grip’s Swoop. k's verance, rotegee. ree. 500 Deadwood 529 4 9 Deadwood Dick Jr., in Texas. 644 D wood Dick, Ir., the Wild West Vidoeq. P| adweod Dick on Mis Mettle. ~~ ~561 Deadwood Deadwood Dick, Jr. In Ptck in Bow 567 Deadwood Dick, Jr., in iphia. Other Novels by E. L. Wheeler. 26 Cloven Hoof, the Buffalo Remon. 82 Beb Woelf; or, The Girl Dead-Shot. 89 Death-F ace, Detective; or, Life in New York. 45 Old Avalanche; or, Wild Edna, the Girl Brigand. 583 Jim Bludasoe, Jr., the Boy Phenix. 61 Buckhorn Bill; or, The Red Rifle Team. 69 Gold Rifle, the Sharpsbooter; or, The Boy Detective, 80 Rosebud Rob; or, Nugget Ned, the Knight. 84 Fdyl, the Girl M Phetograph Phil Giit-Hdged Dick, the Sp rt Detective Cinnamon Chip, the Girl Sport. Buss Bob the King of Bootblacka 1 Solid Sam, the Boy Road-Agent. ae Ferret, the New York Detective; or, Boss Bob’s New York Nell, the Boy-Girl Detective, Nebby Nick of Nevada; or, The Sierras Scamps, Wild y Ra oh the Buckskin Bravo. 209 Fritz, the Bound-Boy Detective. Rs | Fritz te the Front; or, The Ventriloquist Hanter, Snoeezer, the By Sharp; or, The Arab Detective, 286 Apollo Bill, the Trail Tornado. 240 Cyclone Kit, the Young Gladiator. 244 Bierra Sam, the Frontier Ferret. 245 Sierra Sam’s Secret; or, The Bloody Footprints. 258 Sierra Sam’s Pard; or, The Angei of Big Vista. 2558 Sierra Sain’s Seven; or, The Stolen Bride. 278 Jumbo Joe, the Bey Patrol; or, The Rival Heirs, 277 Denver Dol! , the Detective Queen. 251 Denver Doll's Victory. ' or. Little Bill’s Bonanza, 2x5 mver Doll's Decoy ; 291 Turk, Boy Ferret. 296 er 11°s Drift; or. The Road Queen. 209 A 1, the Dashing To!l-Taker. 808 *Liza Jane, the irl Miner; or. the lhon-Nerved Sport. 825 Kelley, Hickey & Co., the Detectives of Philadelphia, B30 Little Quick-Shot; or, The Dead Face of Daggersville. 284 Kangaroo Kit; or, The Mysterious Miner. 289 Kan oo Kit’s Racket. 848 Manhattan Mike, the Bowery Blood. Yre Pam, 400 Wrinkl the Night-Wateh Detective, 416 Wigh tf rry, the Base Ball Detective, 426 Sam SI ea, the Bergar-Boy Detective. 434 Jim Pal, Pri Detectives, k 4535 Santa PF >the Slasher. 456 catar do Sparkler. adn WP : ‘BILL (Hon. Wm. F. Cody). BY B 8 ax The Red Right Hand. z * 49 Renee | t or, The Priot of the Pratrie. : ig Deadly- wh Seont. % Border Ro @0d 3 or, The Prairie Rover. , 155 Faney rank of Colorado; or, The Trapper’s Trust, A ~ | | a BY COLONEL PRENTEISS INGRAHAM, ? The Flying Yankee; or, The Ocean Outcast, Z Ralph Rog, the Boy Buccxn er; or. The Fugitive Yacht, 4 Diamond Dirk ; or, The Mystery of the Yellowstone, 2 The Shadow ship; or, The Rival Lieutenants, & The Boy Dnelist; or, The Cruise of the Sea-Wolf. 1 2 6 z 02 Dick & ead-Eye, the Boy Smu r 1 1 1 The Sea-Devil; or, The Midshipman’s Legacy. 6 The Hussar Captain; or, The Hermit of Hell Gate, 97 Little Grit; or, Bessie, the Stock-Tender’s Daughter. 204 Gold Plume; or, The Kid-Glove Sport. 216 Bison BILL, the Prince of the Reins, 222 Grit, the Bravo Sport; or, The Woman Trailer, Crimson Kate ; +r, The Cowboy’s Triumph. Lone Star, the Cowboy Captain. Merle, the Middy ; or, The Freelance Heir. The Midshipman Mutineer ; or, Brandt, the Buccaneer. Ene Floating Feather; or, Merle Monte’s Treasure siand, The Gold Ship; or, Merle, the Condemned, morte Monte’s Cruise; or, The Chase of “The Gold Ship.” Merle Monte’s Fate; or, Pearl, the Pirate’s Bride, 1 1 i 1 280 284 The Sea Murauder; or, Merle Monte’s Pledge. 287 Billy Blue-Eyes, the Boy Rover of the Rio Grande, 804 The Dead Shot Dandy ; or, Benito, the Boy Bugler. 808 Keno hit; or, Dead Shot Dandy’s Doable. 814 The Mysterious Marauder; or, The Boy Bugler’s Long rail. 877 Bonodel, the Boy Rover} or, The Flagless Schooner. 888 The Indian Pilot; or, The Search for Pirate Island. 887 Warpath WIII, the Boy Phantom. y +44 pee pom tae 5d Lieutenant. 4 sodor, the Young Conspirator 3 or, The Fatal League, 407 The Boy Insurgent; er, The Cuban Vendetta, 412 The Wild Yachtsman; or, The War-Cloua’s Cruise, 429 Duncan Dare, the Boy Refugee. 488 A Cabin Boy's Luck; or, The Corsair. 487 The Seca Ralder. 441 The Ocean Firefly ; or, A Middy’s Vengeance, 446 HMaphazard Harry ; or, The Seapegrace of the Sea, 450 Wizard Will: or, The Boy Ferre: of New York. 454 Wizard Wiill’s Street Scouts, 462 The Born Guide; or, The Sailor Boy Wanderer, 465 Neptune Ned, tle Boy Coaster. 474 Flora; or, Wizard Will’s Vagabond Pard. 488 Ferrets Afloat; or, Wizard Will’s Last Case. 457 Nevada Ned, the Revolver Ranger. 495 Arizona Joe the Boy Pard of Texas Jack. 497 Buck Taylor, King ot thy Cowboys. 508 The Royal Middy ; or, The Shark and the Sea Cat, 507 The Hunted Midshipman, 511 The Outlawed Middy. 520 Buckskin Bill, the Comanche Shadow. 525 Brothers in Buckskin. 530 The Buckski. Bowers, 585 The Bue skin Rovers. Pet Captain Ku-Klux, the Marauder ot the Rio, 45 Lieutenant Leo, the Son of Lafitte. 550 Lafitte’s Legacy: or. The Avenging Son, 655 The Creole Corsair. 560 Pawnee Bill, the Prairie Shadower. 565 Kent Kingdon, the Card King. BY CHARLES MORRIS, 118 Will Somers, the Boy Detective, 122 Phil Hardy, the Boss Bey. 126 Picayune Pete; or, Nicodemus, the Dog Detective. 180 Detective Dick; or, The Hero in i 142 Mandseme Harry, the Bootblack Detective, 147 Will Wiidiire, the Thoroughbred. 152 Black Beas, Will Wildfire’s Racer. 157 Mike Merry, the Harbor Police Boy. 162 Will W ildtire in the Woods, 165 Billy Baggage. the Railroad Boy, 70 A Trump Card; or, Will Wildfire Wins and Loses, 74 Bob Rockett; or, Mysteries of New York. 79 Beb Rockett, the Bank Runner, 88 The Hidden Hand; or, Wi!) Wildfire’s Revenge. 187 Fred Halyard, the Life Boat Boy; »r, The Smugglers. 189 Beb Rockett; or, Driven to the Wall. 196 Shadowed; or, Bob Rockett’s Fight for Life, 206 Dark Paul, the Tiger King. 212 Dashing Dave, the Dandy Detective. 220 Tom Tanner; or, The Black Sheep of the Flock. 225 Sam Charcoal the Preminm Darky. 235 Shadow Sam, the Messenger Boy. 242 The Two * Bloods”; or, Shenandoah Bill and His Gang. 252 Dick Dashaw uy: or, A Dakota Boy in Chicago. The Young Sharps; or, Rollicking Mike’s Hot Trail 272 Jolly Jim, the Detective Apprentice, 289 Jolly Jim’s Job; er, The Young Detective. 298 The Water-Hound; or, The Young Thoroughbred, 805 Dashaway, of Daketa; +r, A Western Lad in the Quaker City. ty Ralph Ready, the Hotel Boy Detective. 1 Tony Thorne, the Vagabond Detective. 858 The Reporter-Detective; or, Fred Flyer’s Blizzard, 867 Wide-Awake Joe; or, A Boy of the Times. 879 Larry, the Leveler; or, The Bloods of the Bonlevard, 408 Firelly Jack, the River-Rat Detective. 428 The Lost Finger; or, The Entrapped Cahier, 428 Fred Flyer, the Reporter Detective. 482 Invincible Logan, the Pinkerton Ferret. 456 Billy Brick, the Jolly Vagabond. 4 466 Wide-Awake Jerry, Detective; or, Entombed Alive, 479 Detective Dodge; or, The Mystery of Frank Hearty, 488% Wild Dick Racket. 591 Boots, the Boy Fireman: or, Too Sharp for the Sharper, 566 The Seeret service Boy Detective. BY JOSEPH E, BADGER, JR. 2 Vellowstone Jack; or, The Trapper. 48 Black John, the Road-Agent; or, The Outlaw’s Retreat, 65 Hurricane Bil; or, Mustang Sam and His Pard. 119 Mustang Sam ; or, The King of the Plains. 186 Night-Nawk Kit; or, The Daughter of the Ranch. 144 Dainty Lance the Boy Sport. 151 Panther Paul; or, Dainty Lance to the Rescue. 160 The Black Giants or, Dainty Lance in Jeopardy. 168 Dendly Dash; or, Fighting Fire with Fire. 184 The Boy Trailers; or, Dainty Lance on the War-Path, 208 The Boy Paris; or. Dainty Lance Unmasks, 211 Crooked Cale, the Caliban of Celestial City. £10 The Rarranca Wolf; or, The Beautiful Decoy. 819 The Black Rider; or, The Horse-Thieves’ League, BRS Old Double Fist; or, The Strange Guide. 855 The King of the Woods: or Dante! Boone’s Last Trail, 449 Kit Fox, the Border Boy Detective. BY OLL COOMES. 5 Vagabond Joe, the Young Wandering Jew. 18 The Dumb Spy. 27 Antelope Abe, the Boy Guide. 81-Keen-Knife, the Prince of the Prairies. 41 Lasso Jack, the Young Mustanger. 5S The Border King; or, The Secret Fx. 71 Delaware Dick, the Young Ranger Spy. 74 Hawk-eye Narry the Young Trapper Ranger, 88 Rollo, the Boy Ranger. 134 Sure Shot Seth, th- Voy Rifleman, Sear-F ace Saul, tle Silent Hunter, 146 Silver Star, the Boy Knight, 158 Eagle Kit, the Boy Demon. 168 Little Texas, the Young Mustanger, 178 Old Solitary, the Hermit Trapper. 182 Little Hurricane, the Boy Captain. 202 ees Pete ; or, The Young Outlaw Hunters, 208 The Boy Hercules: or, The Prairie Tramps. 218 Tiger Tom, the Texas Terror. 224 pc ege | Dick; or, ‘trapper Tom’s Castle, 228 Little Wildfire, the Young Prairie Nomad. 288 The Parson Detective; or, The Litth Ranger. 248 The Disguised Guide ; or, Wild Raven, the Ranger. 260 Dare-Devil Dan, the Young Prairie Ranger. 272 Minkeskin Mike, the Boy Sharpshooter. 290 Little Foxfire, the Boy Spy. 800 The Sky Demon ; or, Ruinbolt, the Ranger. 884 Whip-King Joe, the Boy Ranchero. 409 HMereules; or, Dick, the Boy Ranger. 417 Webtoot Mone, the Tramp Detective. Baby Sam, the Boy Giant o! the Yellowstone. 444 Little Buckakin, tne Young Prsirie Centaur. 457 Wingedfoot Fred3 or. Old Polar Saul. Tamarac Tom, the Big Trapper Boy. 478 Old Tom Rattler, the Red River Kpidemic, 482 Stonewall Bob, the Boy Troian. 562 Blundering Basil, the Hermit Boy Trapper. 6 BY T. 0, HARBAUGH. 28 Nick o’ the Night; or, Th» Boy Spy of °76. 87 The Hidden Lodge; or The Littl Hunter. 47 Nightingale Nat; or, Tne Forest Captains. 64 Dandy Jack; or, The Outlaws of the regon Trai. 82 Kit Harefoot the Woed-Hawk. 94 Midnight Jack 3 or, The Boy Trapper. 10S Old Frosty, the Guide; or, The White Queen, 128 Kiown Charley the White Musianger. — 189 ine Lynch, Jr.¢ or, The Boy Vigilante, 155 Gold Tri r, the apres or, The Girl Avenger. 169 Tornado Tom; or, Injun Jack From Red Core, 188 Ned Temple, the Border Boy. 198 Arkansaw ; or, The Quorn of Fate’s Revenge. 207 Navajo Nick, the Boy Geld Hunter. 215 Captain Bullet; or, Little Topknot’s Crosade, 231 Plucky Phil; or, Rosa, the Rei Jezebel. 241 BiH Bravo; or, The Roughs of the Rockies. 255 Captain Apoli«, tne King-Pin of Bowie. 267 The Buckskin Detective, 279 Old Winch; or, The Buckskin Desperadoes. 294 Dynamite Dan; or, The Bowie Blade of Cochejopa, 802 The Mountain Detective; or, The Trigger Bar Bully, 816 Old Eelipac, Trump Card of Arizona, 826 The Ten Parda; or, The Terror of Take-Notice, 886 Big Benson; ot, The Qneen of the La-so. 845 Pitiles« Matt; or, Red Thunderbol:’s Secret, BS6 Oool Seams nd Part: o The Terrible Six. 8866 Velvet Foot, the Indian Detective. 886 Captain Cutiaxs 3 or, ‘he B ccaneer’s Girl Foe. 896 Rough Rob; or The | win Champions of Blue Blazes. 411 The Silken La- o; er, The Rose of Ranch Robin. 418 Felix Fox, the Boy Spetter. 425 Texas Trump, the Border Rattler. 486 Phil Flash, the New York Fox. 445 The City Vampires; or, Ked Rolfe’s Pigeon. 461 One Against Fifty; or, The Last Man of Keno Bar. 470 The Boy Shadow; or, Felix Fox’s Hunt, 477 The Exceistor Sport; or, The Washington Spotter. 499 Single Sight, the One-Eyed Sport. randed Ben, the Night Ferret. 512 Dodger Dick, the Wharf-Spy Detective. 521 Dodger Dick’« Best Dodge. 528 Fox and Falcon, the Bowery Shadows. 588 Dodger Dick, the Dock Ferret. 548 Dodger Dick’s Double; or, The Rival Boy Detectives. 558 Dedeer Dick’s Desperate Case. 568 Dodger Dick, the Boy Vidorq, LATEST AND NEW ISSUES. 570 Camille, the Card Queen. By Col. Prentics Ingraham. 571 Air-Line Luke, the Young Engineer. By J. C. Cowdrick. 572 Deadwood Dick, Jr., in Chicago. By E. b, Wheeler. 578 The Two Shadows. By T. C. Harbaugh. B74 Old Weasel-top, the Man with the Dogs. By P. 5. Warne. 575 The. Surgeon-Scout Detective. By Colonel Prentiss Ngranain, 576 The Silver Sport. By Lieut. A. K. Sims. 577 Pavement Pete, the Secret Sifter, By Jv Pieree. 578 Deadwood Dick, Jr., Afloat. By Edward L. Wheeler. 579 The Chimney Spy; or, Broadway Billy’s Surprise-Party. By J. C. Cowdrick. " : 580 The Outenst Cadet; or, The False Detective. By Col- Prentiss Ingraham. 581 Double-Ourve Dan, the Pitcher Detective. By George c, Jenks. 5S2 Dedger Dick's Py T. C. Harbaugh. 5S8 Saffron Sol, the Man With a Shadow, By Lieut. A. K. Sime, Deadwood Dick, Jr:, in Denver. By Ed. L. Wheeler. 55 Wl Wate the Bov Ferret. By H. Enton. 5S6 The Buckskin’ Avenger. By Col, Prentiss Ingraham. 587 Old Bombshell, the Rancer Detective. By Wm. G. Patten. BSS Jack-o-Lantern, the Under-Sea Prospector. By Jo Pierce. BS9 Tom-Cat and Pards or. The Dead Set at Silver Chy. By Lient. A. K. Sime. Ready November 6. 590 Deadwood Dick, Jr’s., Deeree. By E. L. Wheeler. Ready November 13. 591 Delmonte, the Young Sea-Rover. By Cel. P Ingraham. Ready Novenber 20. 592 The Boy Pinkerton. By J.C. Cowdrick. Ready Novernber 27, 598 Keen Clem, the Ranch Imp. By P. 8. Warne. Reavy December 4, 594 LitiZe Lon, the Street-Singer Detective. By T. C. Harbaugh. Ready Deeember 11. A New Issue Every Tuesday. The Half-Dime Library is for sale by all newsdealers, five cents per copy, or sent by mail on recelpt of six cents each, BEADLE AND ADAMS, Publishers, 98 William Street, New Yera&. ay
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REE ete SS ms A ¥ am 14 Deadshot Dave ain’t neither of ’em at the Toll- gate te-night, an’ so there'll be a clear way!” ‘““Tf they are not at the Tollgate, where are they” Meredith demanded suspiciously. ‘*Dunno forcertain. I have an ijee they’re in camp, and that thar’ll be an attack made on the gang what aire quartered in the breaker *twixt now and morninu’.” **Then, there’s no time to be lost!” Meredith cried, paling witb alarm. ‘If we con’t get out of camp at once, we may not be able to get out atall, Fetch out the girl, or J will!” “Hark! listen!” cried Avalanche, ‘Ha! didn’t I tell you? The music is begun!” They all listened, and distinctly heard the crack of rifles, coming from the direction of the stamp-mill, The Gentiles had begun the battle for the possession of Jackpot City! Meredith became greatly excited. ‘** Bring forth that girl!” he roared. ‘*T am here, sir!” was the announcement, asa figure clad in a long waterproof, stepped from the adjoining room—a personage who wore a dark vail to conceal the face from view, and who, otherwise, looked very womanly. ‘* Are you ready, Mortos?” ‘““Yes, I am ready!” snapped the villain. ** Here, preacher, get up and tie this knot with- out any unnecessary 3 ver! Hello! what you wearin’ that for, girl?’ and he snatched away the vail. Then, he Jeaped back with a hoarse cry, as he saw the deception that bad been practiced upon bim, for he recognized the smiling face of Dead- wood Dick! At the same instant, Deadshot Dave and an- other powerful man appeared upon the scene, and seized and handcuffed the baffled Elder, while Deadwood Dick’s crinoline fell to the floor, and he stood forth in his now proper dress, smiling and triumphant. CHAPTER XIV. CONCLUSION, ‘*Morton MEREDITH,” the detective cried, ** you are my prisoner! I arrest you for the murder of the late Mrs. Henry Kirke, in Carson City, not to mention the more recent murder of our wife, and for other crimes. The scaffold as long awaited your coming, and now it shall be gratified in stretching the neck of one ef the vilest villains the wild West ever knew.” Words are inadequate to express the furious rage of the baffled wretch, and only through ei exhaustion did he relapse into sullen si- ence. In the mean time, the sounds of battle became fiercer in the direction of the ore-breaker, and presently a burning building lighted up the night. reparations for leaving the camp were now hastened, and within an hour a party, headed by Deadwood Dick, was wending its way on horseback through the gloomy confines of Pur- gatory Pass, Besides Dick as director, there were Deadshot Dave and three officers from Carson, who acted as keepers of Morton Meredith; Nellie Prince and her father; Joe Sands, having charge of Pearl Prince, who was also a prisoner; and last but not least, General Jackpot, who was going to Prescott on business, Old Avalanche and Sal remained behind to try their fortunes with the new town that was to succeed Jackpot City under Gentile rule. When day dawned Purgatory Pass was left behind, and the little cavalcade was well on its tedious journey across the Territory, to Carson, The first two days of the journey passed, with out incident worthy of mention, All parties except it were the prisoners, were in good spirits, and everything seemed to prom- — —_ the journey would be completed without uble, ever, when the was camped in a little val- e » MMNAEOE to change the aspect of affairg: 2 ts < On a distant hillock, a single horseman was discovered, who 1 to be surveying the camp t igha acres oe It was seen tha pie, white man, but, fur- ot be e out. ‘watching the camp afew min- és of bim until the next Deadwood Dick Jr.’s Decree. Yes—one could explain, for Morton Meredith sent for Deadwood Dick, and the detective found bis prisoner in a great state of excitement. ‘In the name of mercy and humanity I beg of you to set me free!” he cried. ‘‘I am doomed, anyhow, and the few hours I have to live 1 want to have in freedom!” ‘Tt is not in my power to set you free were I so disposed!” Dick replied. ‘‘ You are in the custody of the two officers from Carson, and they will not let you go!” Meredith groaned aloud. ‘*You can influence them to free me, For God's sake, [ beg of you to do so!” ‘“‘ Impossible. Why are you suddenly so terrified?” ‘* Because I am doomed!” “ What do you mean?” ‘*T have but a few more hours to live, never reach Carson alive!” “Why not?” ‘ ** Because he is after me!” ~ ** He! Whom do you mean?” ** The horseman!” ; ‘Ah! You know him, then?’ *T wish I didn’t!” “Who is he?” ‘“*His name is Davis. He is an outlaw, and the brother of Kirke’s wife, whom I smothered. For the love of Heaven, let me free!” ‘*Impossible!” and Dick walked away. But, it was with an effort, for he really pitied the miserable wretch. That night passed without further incident; and nothing more was seen of the strange horse- man, as, early the next day the cavalcade moved I will on. Meredith was pale, weak and exhausted. If one might judge by the wild glare in his eyes, the tortures of the living damned had been his during the night. No halt was made until night; and then it was only at the solicitation of Meredith; for the party lacked only ten miles of being in Car- son City. ‘* For God’s sake, give me one more night out of prison!” Meredith pleaded; and, consulting with the officers, Bristol granted the request. The halt was made at the edge of a little prai- rie motte, the fires kindled, and a primitive 4 gd prepared, of which Meredith ate raven- ously. His spirits seemed braced up, and, after sup- per, he called Dick and the others around him. *This is my last night on earth,” be explain- ed, “‘and I shall pay the penalty of my crimes. I’ve tried to stave off the horror of a felon’s death, and have succeeded, for to-night I shall meet my death like a man, and now, before bidding you all good-by, I want tosay that I bear no malice toward any of you. As I have lived, so do I deserve to die, without a feeling of pity or sympathy from the least of you.” Then turning to Dick, he added: ‘* When Davis comes, surrender to him, witb- out opposition. Leave me now, all of you, for T would be alone with my misery!” Somewhat awed, they withdrew, and a hush fell over the camp. But no one felt like sleep. All seemed im- bued witb the apprehension that the end was near, so far as Meredith was concerned. And they were not mistaken, for at moonrise the climax came, With surprising suddenness, as if they had risen from the earth, twenty masked men swept into the camp, all armed. Their leader wasa brawny six-footer. ‘* Who commands this camp?” he demanded. **T do!” Dick replied, stepping forward. ** You have a prisoner, one Meredith?” ** We have!” ‘* Well, I want bim!” ‘* What for?” ‘* Vengeance! He murdered my sister, and bis ae is sealed, Do I have him, orshall I take him Deadwood Dick was not given a chance to re- ply, for Meredith arose, pale but stern. **I’m here, Davia!” hesaid. “I am at your disposal,and have but one favor to ask, which I think you will grant?” “* Name it!” “It is that you will make no scene, here, in the presence of the ladies!” ‘* The favor is granted!” was the reply, Meredith was then taken and mounted upon a horse, and, after he had bidden his former cap- tors good-by, Davis and his gang galloped away. Little remains to be told, to render our story complete. When Dick and his party reached Carson he turned over to John and Ne'lie Prince the Kirke fortune, and received a bandsome recompense for the work he had performed. aa left Carson at once, for duty again called. The Princes still reside in Ca1son except Pearl, who, being forgiven ber baseness and wicked- ness, left for parts more congenial. There is a likelihood, too, that Joe Sands will also become a member of the Prince family. Jackpot City, under a new and more preten- tious name, still exists, with Deadshot Dave, Old Avalanche and General Jackpot an.ong its pros- perous citizens; so wishing them all good hick, we write— THE END. Beatlle's Dime Library. BY DR. J. H. ROBINSON, 18 Pathaway; or, Nick Whiffles. the old Nor’west Trapper. 17 Nightshade; or, The Robber Prince. 22 Whitelaw; or, Nattie of the Lake Shore. 37 Hirl, the Hunchback; or, The Santee Sword- maker. 58 Silver Knife: or. [he Rocky Mountain Ranger. 70 Hydrabad, the Strangler. 73 The Knights of the Red Cross; or, The Granada Mazician. Toe 163 Ben Brion; or, Redpath, the Avenger. © 7% BY MAJOR DANGERFIELD BURR. 92 Buffalo Bill, the Buckskin King. 117 Dashing Dandy; or, The Hotspur of the Hills. 142 Captain Crimson, the Man of the Iron Face. 156 Velvet Face, the Border Bravo, 175 Wild Bill’s Trump Card; or, The an Heiress, 185 The Phantom Mazeppa; or, The na. 448 Hark Kenton, the Traitor. BY MAJOR DANIEL BOONE DUMONT. 833 Silver Sam, the Detective. 389 Colonel Double-Edge, the Cattle Baron’s Pard, 411 The White Crook; or, Old Hark’s Fortress. 420 The Old River Sport; or, A Man of Honor. 439 Salamander Sam. 454 The Night Raider. : 464 Sandycraw, toe Man of Grit. 508 Topnotch Tom, the Mad Person. BY GEORGE C. JENKS. 398 Sleepless Eye, the Pacific Detective. 482 The Giant Horseman. 507 The Drummer Detective.) si. BY COLONEL DELLE SARA, 53 Silver Sam; or, The Mystery of Deadwood City. 87 The Scarlet Captain; or, Prisoner of the Tower. 106 Shamus O’Brien, the Bould Boy of Glingal. BY GEORGE ST. GEORGE. 296 Duncan, the Sea Diver. 417 Tucson Tom; or, The Fire Trailers, BY E. 4, ST, Mox. 471 The Heart of Oak Detective. 491 Zigzag and Cutt, the Invincible Deteétives. MISCELLANEOUS, 6 Wildcat Bob. By Edward L. Wheeler. 9 Handy Andy. By Samuel Lover. 10 Vidoeq, the French Police Spy. By himself. 11 Midsh ipman Easy. By Captain Maryatt. 32 B’hoys of Yale; or, The Scrapes of Collegians. 60 Wide Awake, the Robber King. By F. Dumont, 68 The Fighting Trapper. By Capt. J. F.C, Adams, 76 The Queen’s Musketeers. By George Albany. 78 The Mysterious Spy. By Arthur M. Grainger. 102 The Masked Band By George L. Aiken. 110 The Silent Rifl*'man. “By H. W. Herbert. 125 The Blacksmith Outlaw. By H. Ainsworth. 133 Rody the Rover. By Williem Carleton, 140 Tne Three Spaniar’s. By Geo. Walker 144 The Hunchback of NotreDame, By Victor Hugo. 146 The Docto- Detective. By George Lemuel. 152 Captain Ironnerve, the Counterfeiter Chief. 158 The Doomed Dozen. By Dr. Frank Powell. 166 Owlet, the Robber Prince. By S R. Urban. 179 Conrad, the Convict. By Prof. Gildersleeve. 190 The Three Guardsmen. " By Alexand: r Dumas. 261 Bigck Bang the Prairie Thunderbolt. By Col. ° s 275 The Smuggler Cutter. | J. D. Conroy, 312 Kinkfoot Karl, the Mountain Scourge. By Mor- ris Redwing. 330 Cop Colt,the Quaker City Detective. By C. Morris. 350 Flash Falcon, the Society Detective. By Weldon J. Cobb. 353 Bart Brennan; or, The King of Straight Flush, By John Cuthbert. 366 ™ Telegraph Detective. By George Henry oO Tse. 410 Sarah Brown, Detective, By K. F. Hill. 500 The True-Heart Pards. By Dr. Noel Dunbar. A new tssue every Wednesday. Readle’s Dime Library is for sale all Newsdealrs, tn cents er copy, or sent yy mall on e n eac ry ‘4. Publishers, 98 William Street, New York.
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| ' ' | | | 4 at ' cn ae e: Deadwood Dick Jr.’s Decree. 5 ———— ee ———_——— ————————————————————————————————————eeeSeSeSeSsSeseeSeesSO o"”"$§l_N*TR@mr--PF ChAT -—w"-_"—™”*r-_n-"”"-!-.”’"’’Y’YX’’.”’” = [£?—=P—=_—_—_— healthy ferme. Howsumdever, we can’t die but once, an’ fer my part I’d jest erbout as lief die in pickle as in par’dise wi’ sech as thet screeehin’ catamount, who war Sal Slap!” Dick ordered the drinks, and while he touched lightly ‘of his, he watched Old Avalanche, as the veteran sipped his beverage with great gusto. “By ther smokin’ salamanders, Dicky, thet aire jest like pourin’ ’ile on troubled waters—reg’lar old dew from an Elysian field! Et strikesa slumbering and hitherto voiceless cord in my internal music-box, and brings me back to the days when I uster git up afore daylight an’ skulp an Injun, as an appetizer fer breakfast!” ‘* Avalanche, my brother,” said General Jack- pot, who presided behind che bar, and whose full-moon face reflected the ruddy glow of the peony, most particulariy the nasal feature, ** verily I believe that thou art going the way of the transgressor, and forgetting thy duties to thy brethern an’ sistern of the Church. Verily, the backslider be more despised by thy er, than the reptile that stingeth.” ‘*The Mormon church be cussed!” retorted Avalanche. old mountain dew than for thahull caboodJe of Mormons. Fill up yer glass, Dicky, me boy, an’ drink to ther health o’ ther once main-spoke 0’ ther whirlin’ wheel o’ déemolishun!” . * Thanks! one nip at a time is enough for me, ‘so if it will be all the same, ’Pdrink a cigar,” Dick replied. ‘*Kerect, old boyee! Suit yourself—but no cigars fer ther old eperdemic, when he kin git rare old red-eye fer five bits a swaller, nary time!” aud the Annihilator poured out another brimming glass, and held it up before him, his eyes sparkling with appreciation. ‘‘ Ye would- n’t believe it, but my stock o’ energy has gone up fifty per cent. a share, an’s still a-boomin’. “Tell ye. what, Dicky, my speerits feel as congenial asa coon ina hen-roost, an’ by ther | time I get a couple o’ more o’ these coffin-nails inter my interior, thar’ll be a double distilled hail-storm o’ destruction zephyrin’ around this hyar camp, and yer old Avalanche will slide | down amongst the bosom of his famerly, an’ demonstrate tew Sal his views o’ ther female sufferin’ question! Whoop-ee! let her go, Gallagher! ‘Here goes ter ther juice, that makes one feel merry, An’ pickles yer pride, an’ paints yer nose cherry!” But, alas! the veteran of many battles was not destined to add to the tint of his nasal ap- pendage through the medium of the liquor, for there was a wild feminine screech at this junc- | ture, and the glass was ruthlessly snatched from the Annihilator’s grasp and dashed into atoms on the floor. On turning to see what was the matter, Dead- wood Dick beheld Old Avalanche being’ pulled along toward the street door of the room, by the bair of the head, his captor being a tall, thin, raw-boned female, whose slattern dress and ugly visage gave her the appearance of a veritable Hecate. And Avalanche was submitting to this treat- ment without so much as a whimper! ““a* By Jove! this is too much of a good thing!” | Ditk cried, and sprung forward to separate the pair. As he did so, however, a man suddenly ‘stepped in front of him and seized him by the ~ throat! CHAPTER IT. DEADWOOD DICK ON THE DEFENSIVE, TuHIs interference had been so unexpected, release himself from the grasp upon his throat, not only did Sal Slap succeed in getting her un- fortunate spouse out of the bar-room, but rein- “*T'd give more for a swig of govud | “fortement came to the assistance of Dick’s as- | sailant, and, in almost less time than it takes to write it, his bands were securely pinioned be- hind his back. The first assailant then stepped back and sur- veyed his capture, with a smile of triumph. * Aba!” he observed, ‘so your free-and-easy way, of meddling received a sudden check, eb, my gay young friend?” *+So if seems,” Dick replied, without a trace of resentment in bis tone. ‘‘May I inquire what'is the cause of my being made a prisoner?’ ‘+The cause is sufficient!” the other replied. ‘“‘You entered our town, without leave or license, and that alone warrants your arrest, You refused to give your name or business to my special officer, Marshal Paul Podesta, and publicly assaulted him. and what do you want in J Now, who are you, City” . i ? 2 | esty permits me to publicly tell you! that erethe Prince of Western Detectives could | ; hard to suppress an outburst of anger. ‘*¢ For one thing, I’d like more civil treatment than I have received, so far!” Dich replied, non- chalantly. ‘‘ Before I make known my identity I'd like to know who you are, for I am particu- larly reserved in choosing my associates, and don’t, as a rule, mix up much with the common herd!” This speech combined with his indomitable ** cheek,” caused the Mormon to stare Fora moment, he did not answer; evidently he was trying to solve the problem of what kind of an individual be had struck. ‘“‘Tam Morton Meredith, the Mormon Elder of the town!” he said, haughtily, ‘‘and I own this place, and all that appertains to it, body, substance or soul. No man is allowed here who does not adopt the Mormon faith, and conform with the rules and regulations thereof. This place is my home, wy farm, my principality, purchased, paid for, and protected by law, and I have the right and power to reject, or to ad- mit to my domain, whomsoever I may elect. Trespassers come under the hand of the law, and I have perfect right to arrest whoever I may see fit. You not having passed into'tbis camp via the Tollgate, and received the sign to prove that you are all right, are therefore called upon to explain!” and the Saint folded his arms across his breast, and waited for an answer. He was a tall, well-proportioned man, some fort¥ years of age, with a round, smoothly shaven face, scintillating eyes, and glossy hair of dark-brown color. He was dressed neatly, in a black suit, wore a silk hat, no jewelry, and, taken as a whole, was a good-looking person, who evidently bad been brought up not to value the power of the almighty dollar. ‘*Your vocabulary lacks nothing in the way of assumption and autbority certainly,” was the quiet rejoinder, ‘‘ but, my saintlybrother, excuse me if Isay your language does not in the least disconcert me, 1 am tooold a nomad to be cowed by patent thunder. Elder Brown thor- oughly schooled me in regard to the sort of a hairpin I was to run afoul of bere, and I am foe to say, Elder, that i’m glad to meet you. f my dukes were free I should be only too happy to grasp you by the band!” Meredith frowned. ‘‘What do you mean, sir?’ he growled. ‘¢ What do you know of Elder Brown?” **T simply know him to be your superior, in Mormon authority,” Dick replied, ‘‘and pre- sume you recognize that authority. For further information, I refer you to a document you will find in the left hand breast pocket of my coat,” This nettled Meredith more than ever. Since he bad risen to a position among the Latter-Day ‘ Saints,’ and, especially, since he bad held sway at Jackpot City, be had not been accustomed to such independence of manner and language as he had received from the sport detective. Who was he? Where did he come from? What did he know of Elder Brown, of Salt Lake City, whom Meredith hated, feared, and yet was forced to yield to, more than to any other man on earth. These were the questions Jackpot City’s mag- istrate d8ked himself, as he stood glaring at the cool, indifferent prisoner, whom he already de- | tested, ‘*Bah!” he retorted, derisively; ‘‘ you are a | scoundrel and an impostor!” ‘‘The proof of the pudding is in the eating!” was Dick’s calm rejoinder. ‘‘{f you doubt it, | devour the document I have referred to—which | is sealed—and I know not itscontents—and very likely you will learn more than my innate mod- ” o Vi ery well,” Meredith replied, struggling “ We will see who, and what you are, If you are an impostor, you had better never have set foot in Jackpot City!” He stepped forward, and, inserting his band into the left-hand, inside pocket of Dick’s coat, withdrew a sealed letter, which he at once opened and perused. It ran as follows: **Saur Lake Crry, May —, 188—. ‘Mr. MEREDITH:— “*My Dear Str:—Although we are, privately, éne- mies, I consider it my duty to give you due notice that you must adopt new methods of protection and precaution, as your downfall would be a down- fall to the interests of the Church. Let me there- fore enjoin on you the utmost secrecy and watch- fulness. There are thousands of men, who, did they know not only of the wealth of your place but of your being there, would descend upon it in a cloud, and your present sway would be forever lost, and your life, also! “Your guard is insufficient, and unless placed in the charge of the ec party, the doom of Jack- pot City is sealed. The existence of the place is daily becoming more and more known to outsiders, and only instant readiness to repulse intrusion, in case of emergency, will save the place from falling back into the hands of the Gentiles. ** A~ for yourself, you need even more protection. Your affairs at C—— are not lessening in magnitude. as they age, and you know what fate awaits you, if you fall into the clutches of the law. ? “I have sent this by a man whom you can impli- citly trust. He was formerly a U. 8. Government Detective, but is now under a cloud—a fugitive from justice—and will prove a usetul ally to you. He is clear-headed, cool and fearless, a born general over men, a keen manager, and a powerin himself. He is a student of character, and allows no petty scru- ples to interfere with work he has to do, ‘Therefore, I recommend you to make him chief of guard, and if there is any trouble, he is the man you can rely upon to suppress it. **You and I are still enemies, Morton Meredith, and I will not seek my vengeance until the fatal anniversary of your devilish deed. Until then, we are brother Mormons, and my duty to the Church commands me to indite you this letter, which, bay- ing passed the approval cf the senjor bishop, [ here- by direct you to carefully consider, and act accord- ingly. “Yours in the Church, * ELpER Jos, Brown,” After the first perusal, Meredith read the let- ter over again, before speaking. ‘‘ Humph!” be growled, after the second read- ing, “ this letter is a forgery. You did not re- ceive it from Brown at all, or if you did, he’s undergone a great change, It’s my opinion you're a sneaking spy, come bere to pry into my affairs,” ‘*‘ Sorry you’ve got such a bad opinion of me,” Dick replied, *‘and I hope you'll shake it off, If you doubt my being what I’m represented, or think the letter is spurious, why don’t you com- municate your suspicions to Elder Brown, and bave him set your mind at rest?’ ‘*That’s precisely what I propose to do, I shall dispatch a messenger at once to Salt Lake City, and on his return, if he does not bring back a favorable report, direct from the Elder’s own lips, I will have you shot, Until then you are weleome to such hospitality as you may find here, but bear thisin mind: you will be watched, and if you make any attempt to leave Jackpot City you will be shot down likea dog. Here, Podesta, release the prisoner’s hands,” Podesta, with one eye swollen shut and discol- ored, shuffled forward, and in a twinkling the detective was at liberty. Meredith turned then and quitted the hotel, while, not desiring further publicity for the present, Deadwood Dick had a room assigned bim by Old Jackpot, and retired to it, prepara- tory to a good night’s rest. For there was no telling whet the day might bring forth. CHAPTER IV. DEADWOOD DICK MAKES A FEW INQUIRIES. DEADWOOD Dick was early astir“the next morning, ana found General Jackpot just open- ing up for business. ‘ “* Ab, good-morning, young man!” the Gen- eral saluted, rubbing his hands together bland- ly. ‘‘ You are an early riser, I see. Perbaps it is for the same reason that lam such, The old General allus has to have an eye-opener before breakfast, and as he has so far forgot himself as to not yet imbibe, will you jine us?” ‘With pleasure,” Dick replied, knowing a refusal would be considered an offense. ‘If you’ve any wine I'll sample that.” ‘‘ Wine I have, what woos the wits into wis- dom,” the General assured, oratorically. ‘* By the way, my friend, are you of the Mormon faith invested?” “In a horn!” Dick replied, betraying his dis- ust. , “But, then, how came Meredith to let you ro?” ‘“*Oh, he bad a reason to! mon?” ‘¢God forbid!’ the General exclaimed, as he poured out his liquor and tossed it off at a gulp. Are you a Mor- ‘But fer the cussed galoots, me an’ my pard- ners would still own these mines. But wait, me boy! There'll be a change afore long, and we'll sweep these brutes off’en the face o’ the earth, sure’s my name’s General Jackpot! We're all organized for revolt, and it’s only a question of time, till we get a little stronger, when thar’ll be an insurrection, and then we'll retake the mines,” “Good! I admire that resolution, and if I am around when the revolt takes place, you can count on me to lend a helping hand, For the present, I am playing a little game of my own, and, for reasons best known to myself, shall, if
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2 Deadwood Dick Jr.’s Decree, —- the frowning, towering mountains, with their snow clad peaks, and, in front, by a noisy, rapid river that rushes madly toward the south, is, e was until lately, the little tewn of Jackpot ity. The peninsula alluded to, comprises a trifle less than five hundred acres, and except for the bed of the furious stream, is the only foot of level land in the whole lengtn of Echo Canyon, . for above and below the peninsula, the torrent, which is most generally known to the trappers of tae Humbolit as Cyclone Creek, on account of its swiftness and rumbling noise, occupies the entire bottom of the canyon, there being not so much as a footpath along its course. A queer place for a town, the reader will say. And the question will naturally arise, ‘ If the upper and lower canyon is entirely submerged with an irresistible torrent of water, how could Jackpot City be reached””’—for no human being could hope to scale the lofty mountains that arose sharply from the peninsula, until their peaks seemingly touched the clouds. Yet, there was a way of reaching Echo Can- you without wading up or down-stream, a feat impossible to accomplish, owing to-the rapidity of the current. Standing on the peninsula point with your back to the seething waters, you gazed at the somber wall of rock that rose facing you, At first you saw naught but the wall itself, and the scattered habitations, on either side of the range of your vision. You gradually advance on a direct line, and it is not until you are within a ahundred yards of the frowning barrier that you discover a fissure in the mountain-side, This fissure, when you reach its mouth, proves to be not more than ten feet wide, and extends upward through the solid rock as far as the eye ean reach. Evidently, in some remote age, an earthquake must have rent the mountain apart, thus torming this narrow defile, whlch, after leaving Jackpot City, worms its way through the forest-clad mountains, gradually widening as it finally debouches into the foot-hills of the eastern slope of the range near the Utah line. In all Nevada, there is no wilder, grander scenery than that found in, the stupendous Hum- boldt Hills, and the defile just described passes through the most weird of this scenery, and for years has been known to the rangers and pros- pectors as Purgatory Pass,* ‘ The bottom of the pass, into which sunshine never penetrates more than half an hour per diem, is quite smooth and free from obstruction: consequently a wagon can traverse its entire _— Midway between Jackpot City and the eastern terminus, a transverse gulch crosses Purgatory Pass, and at this point was a habitation—a cabin built of a double thickness of logs, with power- ful oaken door, and roofed with tvick slabs of shale stone. The windows, too, were higer than a man’s head, and protected by iron bars. The builder had evidently taken the precau- tion to provide himself well against the siege of an enemy. The cabin itself backed against one wall of Purgatory Pass; while, extending from it clear across the pass, was a massive, iron-bound gate. When this gate was closed and locked, further p”ogress via gatory Pass, in either direction, was prevented. On top of the gate was a neatly painted sign, esntaining the folowing information for the benefit of travelers. On the Eastern side of the board, for the information of people bound for Jackpot was this: “GOW'T TOLLGATE. NOTICE! Tais Way To Jackpot Crry! VOU BSr MANS iles Save vances Twenty-five cents, Ws AOMOY A se, thoes Ten nid ‘Deapsnot Dave, Clerk.” On the Western side of the sign, for the benefit of persons Eastward-bound, this: “GOV'T TOLLGATE. Tas Way To Utan Terrirory Live, anp Pormrs NorRTH AND Sours! Toll per uct ed Five DrapsHot Dave, Clerk.” It thus appeared, that a larger toll was exacted for Western-bound traffic than for Eastern- bound, The cabin was a large, roomy affair, and its _— door opened on the eastern side of the big gate. *The name originated from a superstition that whoever entered he pass from the east, aud fol- age | it to its terminus, never returned to the outer world, “i | | | | Over the door hung another sign, creaking dismally in the stiff breeze that ever sucked through Pargatory Pass. This sign contained the following bill of par- ticulars: BAR! Common Bug-Juice ......... .... Twenty-five ¢ents, XXX Tickler, per Three Fingers. . Forty ee ‘ten Year Old Red-Hye......... ..Fifty ry PORUACCE QEIUS. ooo. Sc Lares dws Twenty-five ‘‘ As a rule, the door of the toll-house was never open, except in midsummer, and any one who came along, and wanted to pass through the gate, had to exercise his vocal powers by ‘**halloaing,” before any one appeared to wait, on him or her, as the case might be, Such was Purgatory Pass, at a casual glance. Returning to Jackpot City, we are in a little frontier village, composed of perhaps a hundred habitations, half a dozen business places, such as stores, saloons, 4nd gaming-rooms, an ore mill, in full blast, and, last but not least, the | big barn-like structure, with its broad piazza, known as the Jackpot Inn. The existence of Jackpot City, with its thou- | sand and odd population, originated somewhat as follows, During the summer months of the year pre- ceding our story, which opens in the bndding spring of 185—, three men prospecting for ore in the Humboldt Mountains, met by chance one noonday, at the forks of the two mountain defiles, where afterward stood the Tollgate al- ready described. Two of the trio were veterans of the mining and Indian times of over three decades before, while the third, a man of forty, was much the youngest of the party. All proved tobe ‘‘ hail-fellows-well-met,” how- ever—nomads of the frontier, who never had been or would be content to lead any other sort of life than that which they now pursued and enjoyed. Consequently, after they bad broken fast together, and lit their pipes, it was pro- osed that, so long as they remained in the Framboldt Range, they should join issues as partners; for the better they became acquaint- ed, it was developed that neither had met with any success while prospecting in the moun- tains, and it was thought that the consolidation of interests might affect a change of luck for the better, So the partnership was entered into, harmo- niously, and the partners thereto seemed well matched. The elder of the trio was ‘‘ General” Jackson Potts, a veteran of the feverish mining days of California and Pike’s Peak—a gray-whiskered, totally bald old chap, with plenty of life, strength and spirit, despite his eight-and-sixty years—a genial, big-hearted fellow, who was full of reminiscences of by-gone days, and who was as fond of a good story, a joke, or three fingers of rye as the next one. Just how he acquired the prefix ‘‘ General ” is not apparent, nor did the ‘‘General” gratify the curiosity of those who took the pains to in- quire into the matter. Suffice to say that he was dubbed ‘ General,” whether he had ever been commissioned or no, and, true to Western ways, bis name had been abbreviated, and instead of Jackson Potts, he was christened by his pards General Jackpot. Next in point of age to the General, was a lit- tle, shriveled-up old man, who was, nevertheless, possessed of prodigious strength and panther- like agility, and was an unerring rifle and re- volver-shot, and a dangerous individual*to get into a scrimmage with. There was little flesh upon his frame, but what there was was hard as gristle. His shaggy hair and beard ‘were liberally streaked with gray, and his face bore the scars of many a bat- tle; but his eyes were as keen as a hawk’s, and sparkled with the avimation and brilliancy of youth. Ears he had none, they having been shorn off close to his head, years before our story. This famous character needs no further in- troduction to the readers of Brap.LEe’s Hatr- Dime LisRaryY, where he is already known as Old Avalanche, the Only Original Great Injan Annihilator. The third person, John Prince, was a good- looking, able-bodied man, in the prime of life, and a genial companion. He was gentlemanly, well-educated, more polished in bis manners than his two companions (albeit General Jack- pot carried considerable “sugar” about bis clothes, which he had saved up-in bygone days), and quite particular about his personal appear- ance, His companions drew from him that he had — thn seen better days, having, until a couple of years previous, been successfully engaged in the brokerage business in Carson City. He was ru- ined, however, by his partner’s absconding with the entire assets of the firm, and he was thrown upon the world, penniless, with nothing left to ‘do but start out and begin life anew. This mueh Prince’s two partners learned, and no more, for he.was not a man who was par- ticularly communicative regarding himself or his past, After the firm of:Jackpot, Avalanche and Prince was organized, and vows of fidelity sealed over a pint-flask of ‘‘ bug-juice,” a reso- lution was passed to penetrate Purgatory Pass to its western terminus, something tbat, it was believed, bad then never heen accomplished. So equipping themselves with meat, a plenty of which was abuadanut in the mountains, the trio set out on their jcurney. As a result, after a longer tramp than was an- ticipated, they at length reached the peninsula, i in Echo Canyon, where afterward Jackpot City sprung into existence, To the great elation of the three prospectors, they found the Mecca of their fondest hopes; they had discovered a new Eldoiado, in the almost impenetrable fastnesses of the mountains literally locked out from the world at large. Not only was the soil of the peninsula itself richly impregnated with “drift” or ‘* wash” dirt, but there were plenteous out-croppings of “sign” rock, in the towering mountain-side. So extravagant were the promises Nature held forth to these pioneers of Jackpot City, of the wealth that lay there at their disposal, that they grew hilariously jubilant, and were afflicted with the most radical type of gold-fever. At first, it was decided te keep their discovery a secret from the outside werld, as long as pos- sible, and work the mines on their own account, but this resolution soon fell through. ‘“lt’s ‘*a pretty sure thing to bet on;” that, the more money one makes, the more he wants to make, and so it was with the Jackpot Three, Although they took out an average of twenty dollars a day each, from the peninsular dirt, they were greedy for more, and foresaw that by hiring an extra force their receipts would be proportionately increased, and it would not re- quire so long a time to fill their coffers to over- flowing. Consequently it was decided to introducé a dozen trustworthy and able-bodied men into the mines, who would be paid extra wages, to work for the company’s interests but none were to be employed who did not have families, and who were not sober, and industrious, With this extra force the peninsula could be profitably worked, until winter set in, and then a drift could be sunk into the mountain, a fine vein of ore having already been disclosed. General Jackpot was commussiored to select the payties wanted, while Prince was to go to the nearest point for purchasing supplies, and fetch back enough canvas to build temporary abodes for all hands, * Old Avalanche was to remain behind, and do guard duty, General Jackpot and John Prince left Echo Canyon on the same day, the former going to Salt Lake City, and the latter to Carson City ev. Before leaving the mines, Jackpot had, unbe- known to the others, discovered a valuable nug- get, and this he took with him. Weeks passed by, and during this time Old Avalanche divided bis time between working the elaim and making himself a cabin, partly cf stone and partly of logs. John Prince was the first to return, and with him he brought a big prairie ‘ schooner,” drawn by six horses, canvas enough for twenty tents, a collection of mining implements and other tools, a stock of blasting-powder and ammuni- tion, a portable steam-engine, boiler and saw- mill, and, last but not least, his son, Tom, a strapping young man of seventeen, his daughter, Nellie, a pretty young lady one year her broth- er’s senior, and a niece, named Pearl Prince, an orphan, by the way, and rather prepossessing, She was about twenty-three. ; Tom Prince was a practical engineer, a Jack- of-all-trades, and just the man who would make a valuable addition to the town of Jackpot City. The General returned from Utah one week after the arrival of John Prince, accompanied 7 fifteen able-bodied men, who were only too = to get work at the stipulated price of three ollars per day, and a shelter for themselves and families. Each man had a wife, but ne children, while ten of the fifteen were half. breeds, but, evidently, peacefully disposed. ia 4 - — pis
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_ eclipse, for a week to come. Deadwood Dick Jr.’s Decree. things work right, appear to be Elder Mere- dith’s right-hand man and ally, while in reality Iam working dead against him. Understand the racket?” ‘*Hum! yes, partly. [Ive heard my pard, Old Avalanche, speak of you frequently. You area detective?” ‘* Yes; but mum’s the word as regards that. I am here ov an important mission, and while working out my own case, can be of service to your cause in a quiet way.” ‘* Jes’ so—jes’ so! An’ right glad we shall be to have you on our side!” the General declared ; ‘for both me an’ my friend Avalanche ain’t quite up to the fightin’ standard we once war, especially sence we war forced to hitch up in double harness. Lordy! tho’, my woman’s a queen to the old catamount Alva’s got.” “Probably. From what I saw last night, my old friend bas a hard lot of it. Where does Avalanche live?” ‘*In a cabin, down yonder on the south edge o’ the pernins’ler; but ef you know when you’re well off, you will not go pokin’ ’round thar, fer you’ allus find the old woman ‘at home,’ in high tantrum, and her reception committee consists of a pair of forty-four caliber ‘ barkers’ which she knows how to use with effect. So, if ou are hankerin’ to get filled full of solder, you better go down and call on Sal. If she don’t make it interesting for you, Dll keep free bar fer the hull town from now till closin’-up time to-night.” “Well, if that’s the case, I hardly think I shall venture to intrude upon the charming matron!” Dick declared, shrugging his shoul- ders, ‘‘I’d like to have a longer talk with Avalanche, however, as no doubt he could give me points that I wish to know.” ‘* Well, if that’s the case, you’re likely to have to. wait awhile!” the General chuckled, ‘for, to one, the Annibilator will be under an If ther inquiries ye have to make concern this hyer town, I reckon I kin post you purty nigh as well as ther next one.” “Very well. You're the individual 1 want to see. One partof my mission in Jackpot City is to find a missing man. The case is this: Over a month ago, I sent a detective partner of mine into the Humboldt Mountains, in this immediate vicinity, to hunt up a man to whom an impor- tant secret was to be committed, My partner was to communicate with me as often as pos- sible, but, having heard nothing of him, or of the result of his search, up to two weeks ago, I set out in seareh of him, myself, and after scouring the mountains hereabouts, I finally struck this town. But, after getting a look at most of the citizens, I have failed to find my rtner, and fear that some harm has befallen im!” ** What fer name did yer partner bear?” ** Joseph Sands!” ** Sands, eh?’ and the General rubbed the bald surface of his cranium, until it assumed nearly as roseate a tint as the end of bis nose. ‘* Sands, hey? Yes, I allow I’ve seen him. Short, stocky sort of a galoot, hey?” “* Exactly !” ** Rather good-lookin’, wi’ a blonde mustache, and mighty keen eyes!” ‘*Yes! yes! that’s the man. Where is he?” ‘“‘Gone where the woodbine twineth, my friend, I reckon, Thar was sech a feller floated into this camp, about a fortnight ago, an’ got into some trouble wi’ Meredith. I don’t know the bull circumstances o’ thecase, but [ve heern tell that he didn’t get out o’ camp alive!” “Do you mean to say that he was foully dealt with?” demanded Dick in evident excite- ment. “Dunno what else ye kin make outo’et. I know he disappeared mighty suddint, an’ Dead- shot Dave has told me that he didn’t leave ther town by ther way of Purgatory Pass.” ** Who is Deadshot Dave?” .** He keeps ther Tollgate, up ther pass.” ** Ah! I see!” and Deadwood Dick paced to and fro, in front of the bar, in perplexity. ‘‘ By Heaven! if this double-dyéd scoundrel, Mere- dith, has caused the death of poor Sands, this town is doomed, and he with it. Not an ac- cursed Mormon shall escape!” “Bully for you!” cried the General, en- thusiastically. ‘“ Tbat’s the way to talk it! You sail in an’ start the ball a-rollin’, an’ ye can bet every Gentile in the cainp will be with ye, tooth, Thomashawk, and toe-nail!” Richard made no answer for a few moments, ~ then, he asked, abruptly. **Did Sands tell you, or have you heard any Guy wy what was his mission, in Jackpot ese nen ‘*No, I only saw him oncé, and afterward heard he and Meredith had had a quarrel, and that Sands would not be likely to pick up any more quarrels around this hyer camp. It ain’t a healthy, job to go nosin’ around into Mormon affairs, an’ so I war content to accept what lit- tle [ heerd asa conclusion that your pard had | be@n done for by the Danites!” ‘*The Danites?” ‘‘ Yes—Paul Podesta and his gang. When there’s any dirty work Meredith wants done, they’re the chaps as does it, it is said.” ‘* How many are there of ’em?” ‘* That’s more’n [ kin tell you, for the rest of ’em is unknown, except Podesta, and even he professes to know nothing of the existence of such a gang. We Geatiles know better, and it’s only keeping our mouths sbut and conforming to Meredith’s tyrant rules that keeps us from the unpleasant sensation of waking up some morn- ing to find ourselves corpses.” ‘*Humph! I see. But this sort of business won't last long. When I get things working right (ll make short work of Morton Meredith and his infamous Mormen rule. Now, drop- ping Sands out of the case, and granting that he bas been foully dealt with, I want to ask you if there is, or has been, previous to my arrival, such a man in Jackpot City as John Prince?” ** John Prince?, Great humped-up hornets, I should say thar war! Why,et war me, General George Washington Potts, together wi’ John Prince an’ Old Avalanche, who first discovered ther auriferous in this hyar canyon.” ‘*TIndeed?, Then I am on the right trail,” Dick said. ‘‘It was to bunt up this man, Prince, that I sent my partner into the Hum- boldt Mountains. Where will I find him—I mean John Prince?” ‘“T reckon you won't find him at all for the present,” the General replied, grimly, *‘ or if you do, you'll run the risk o’ gettin’ riddled wi’ bul- lets a-doin’ it!” The General then went on, and detailed how, by Meredith’s orders, all the Gentiles except John Prince had been forced to take unto them- selves Mormon wives, and how Prince bad been shut up ina secret dungeon, somewhere in the bowels of the mountains, there to remain for fourteen days without food or water, all be- cause he refused to accept the fate of his com- rades, ‘* Where is this dungeon?’ Dick demanded, when the General had finished. ‘““The Lord only knows!” the General groaned, ‘The boys have tried to locate it, but have made an ignominious failure, and, as near as they can learn, Meredith and his tool, Podesta, are the only two who know where the dungeon is,” ** Tl bet Pl know,” Dick asserted, ‘‘ before I am in Jackpot City many hours longer. How long has John Prince been imprisoned, thus far?” This is the tenth day. Poor fellow, I reckon he’s turned up his tces, long ere this. 1 allow no man could live that long, without food or drink.” “Tt would seem not. Yet I have heard of in- stances where people lived many days more than that. John Prince had a daughter, bad he not?” se Yes.” ‘* What became of her?” ** She lives down yonder, on the furthest point of the peninsula, in the little cottage. Poor thing! she nearly cries her pretty eyes out, all on account of her father’s being shut up.” At this juncture a number of roughly dressed laborers entered the bar-room, and so conversa- tion for the time being was at an end. CHAPTER V. MISS PRINCE. DuRInG the daytime, especially working hours, Jackpot City was about the quietest town one could imagine, all the male population, with the exception of a handful of tradesmen and saloon- keepers, being at work in the big drift that was driven into the mountain-side; and which was yielding so much rich ore, that placer mining on the peninsula was abandoned. After breakfast, Dick sauntered forth for a stroll, The northern portion of the peninsula was tim- bered with majestic pines and cottonwoods, and afforded a shady retreat, and baving nothing in particular to occupy his attention, until later in the day, Bristol wandered toward the woods, and later threaded its leafy aisles, Away ahead, through the timber, the roar of the turbulent waters of Cyclone Creek could be heard, as they lashed themselves into a fury against the rock-ribbed shores ina Vain effort to cut across the neck of land, and then witha sullen rush had to turn aside, and sweep angrily around the peninsula’s point, But neither the ecaroling of the winged song- sters overhead nor the bubbub of the waters, seemed to be noticed by the Wild West Detec- tive, as he wandered among the trees in deep thought, For an hour he paced to and fro, and then paused to light a cigar and look at his watch, As he dia so, he caught sight of something lying on the ground before him, and on stooping to pick it up, he was astonished to find it was a chamois purse, prettily trimmed with various colored beads, the latter being also arranged into the letters “Neti P;” Examination proved that this little receptacle contained a sum of money in’ greenbacks, but just how much, Dick did not take the trouble to count, ‘** Queer place to find a purse!” he mused. wonder where the owner is. Nellie P——? Let me think. Ah! I have it—Nellie Prince, John Prince’s daughter! By Jove! it is fortunate I found this, for now I have a good excuse for calling on the young lady.” : «Putting the purse in his pocket, he left the for- est, and made his way toward the point of land where stood the Prince cottage, which was one of the cosiest in Jackpot City, inasmuch as vines had been trained up over the door-arbor and windows, and flower-beds were arrangad on either side of the graveled walk. E The front door stood partly ajar as Deadwood Dick approached, and as he came up it was opened by the person whom the detective con- cluded must be Nellie Prince, for he was un- aware that Jobn Prince’s niece was a member of his family. The young woman he now beheld, was tall and of sylph-like build, with rather strong cast of features, a pearly complexion, dark, liquid eyes, and raven hair, with which great care had been taken, evidently, to becomingly arrange. She was in a flowing wrapper of pink percale, with a bunch of wood-lilies at her fair throat, and was certainly a picture of rare beauty, such as is not frequently met with in the wild regions of the West. ‘*Have I the honor of addressing Miss Nellie Prince?” Dick asked, cavalierly raising his hat. The young woman hesitated a second, while her gaze swept the detective from bead to foot, ‘* Yes, I am Miss Prince,” she finally answered, ** What is it you wish?” ‘* If you will pardon me, I will introduce my- self. My name-is Bristol, and I am commis- sioned to see your estimable father on an im- portant business matter. Learning that Mr. Prince is not to be seen at present, | concluded . 2 would be appropriate to call upon bis daugh- er. _ ‘Certainly. Youdidquiteright. Pray come inside.” _And Dick was ushered into a plain little sit- be Sa and given a chair. ‘* Were you acquainted with papa, Mr. Bris- tol?’ Miss Prince eke, when they were Seated: <I was not,” Dick replied. * Chancing to visit Carson City a few weeks ago, I was en- gaged to hunt up your father, as soon as it be- came known thet I wes a detective,” A detective?” and Miss Prince began to look ill at ease, ‘Yes, miss; but pray do not be alarmed, be- cause my motive in finding your father is not an unfriendly one. I bave come as a friend, and as such J trust you will accept me, Your father was formerly in business in Carson, I believe?” Yes, sir. He was engaged in the brokerage business, in company with a man named Henry Kirke,” “Mr. Prince was stand?” “Yes, sir, I think he had many thousand dollars in the business: but he lost it all, through the base treachery of his partner, who absconded with the entire assets of the firm.” ‘‘ How old a man was this Henry Kirke?” * Over sixty years of age.” “Do you know where he went after he fled from Carson City?” “IT donot. Ihave heard he was afterward seen in Utab.” f He had two nephews, I believe?” Yes, sir—a Mr. Morton Meredith, who is the present Mormon ruler of this camp, and an- other nephew named Lloyd Meredith, The lat- ter, however, was at swords’ points with Kirke and Morton Meredith, and consequently changed “nel one name for the commoner one of Joe quite wealthy, I under- ey
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his own. ‘*Now, which way?” Davis demanded, as they Ore upon the peninsula, “To the mouth of the Purgatory Pass.” ‘* Lead on, and bearin mind your life hinges on your good behavior.” Dick made no reply, but led off, and Davis brought up the rear, revolver in hand. It was an odd little procession,the twain made, as they wended their way across the neck cf | land, toward the mouth of the dismal pass, : It required but a couple of minutes’ walk to reach the mouth of the pass, and there Dick came to a halt, and appeared to be peering searchingly around him, ‘* Well, what’s the matter, now!” growled | Davis. ‘Is the money concealed here? If it is, | produce it instanter, or I’}] biow your head off!” | ‘Don’t get in a sweat!” Dick responded, | ‘I'm tryin’ to make out the exact spot—” ** Drep that ‘ pop?” | The order came suddenly, and in fierce tones, | and, with a cry of alarm, Davis wheeled to find himself confronted by tbe towering figure of | Deadshot Dave, and to find himself **‘ covered ” by a revolver even more wicked-looking than ‘Drop that gun, 1 say!” again ordered the half-breed, grufily, and this time Davis obeyed, for the suddenness of the turning of the tables | had completely unnerved him, and he trembled with abject terror. ** Now, pardner,” said Dave, ‘if you'll adorn | this cuss with a pair o’ bracelets, 1 reckon we won’t haye any more trouble wita him.” ‘*The bracelets shall the worthy Isaac have!” Dick replied, handcuffing the prisoner. * But, this him happens to be a her!” ‘The devil you say!” ‘* Well, no, not exactly the devil, but one of his fair satellites. Allow me, Mister Davis,” and reaching forward, Dick first removed the slouch hat, then the false beard and hair of the disguised schemer, and Pearl Prince stood be- fore them, unmasked, **Curse you! curse you!” she cried. att ever get fee, ’'ll murder you both,” she scream- ed, fairly furious over her defeat. ‘*Qh, no doubt you would like to!” Dick re- | plied, ‘* but, as you have done quite enough mis- | chief for one while, I reckon we shall be in duty | bound to put a temporary check on your | rogress daown-hill, You’ve played a good | aoe in the game, oply you discarded wrong. | In’ future; never think a jack will be worth | playing, when kings are high against you.” For the next few minutes the young woman indulged in language mure forcible than polite; | then she went into hysterics, after which she | capped the climax by fainting dead away. | aving ber in charge of Dave, with instruc- tions to take ber to the Tollgate as soon as she recovered consciousness, Dick returned to Jackpot, taking with him the bundle of muslin / on which was bis proclamation. Ere day had fairly dawned, this bulletin was posted in a conspicuous place, on the end of an Lone shanty, for the edification of the early and late risers of the little mountain town, CHAPTER XI{L THE KNOT THAT WAS NEVER TIED, WHEN the people of Jackpot came forth, and, one after another read Deadwood Dick’s: Decree, there was no end to excitement and consterna- tion. The men swore, roved about and drank whisky, and the women sniveled and gossiped, and forgot to get breakfast. The prospect of being driven from their new | homes was anything but pleasing. The majority of the weaker sex were con- firmed adherents of Mormonism, and a goodly | number of the men declared their intention of | showing fight, in case there was an invasion of Gentiles, | As soon as he heard of the commotion, Mor- Evi- ton Meredith took a Jook at the belletin. dently it did not impress him agreeably, for his ; face grew pale, and a hunted look entered his eyes, Phat accursed hound, Bristol, has done this,” he growled, ‘“‘and that proves Nellie’s statement that this camp will be invaded, | Well, let them come, The invasion is not to take place until Friday, and ere Friday dawns I shall be out of this camp.” No attempt was made to work the mines that day, and the single little street swarmed with excited people all day. There was a noticeable division of the classes, too, The Mormons. who wereforretaining possession of the camp, and fighting it out on that line, largely predominated, but lacked male strength. The class who voted to remain, subject to Gentile government, had the majority of able- bodied men, and few women on their side. Paul Podesta was about the only man who was, so to speak, * astraddle the fence.” The failure of Pearl Prince’s mad scheme was not unknown to him, for he had secretly wit- nessed her capture, and knew that there was no promise of getting hold of the Kirke fortune, so far as she was concerned. W bich party to Jend his services to he did not quite know, for he was ambitious to be on the winning side, and was uncertain which side that would be. Much depended on the numbers the invasion brought, But make money out of the trouble he meant to do, come what might, and he knew of no | source more likely to yield a good revenue than in ‘* working ” Morton Meredith. So to Meredith’s cottage he betook himself, and fourd the elder at home in a particularly disagreeable humor, ‘** Well, what d’ye want?” he demanded, when the Danite entered. ‘I didn’t send for you.” ** Who said you did?’ was the cool reply. ** What do you want?” **Oh! I thonght I'd drop in and have a settle- | ment with you.” ** A settlement? What do you mean? I don’t owe you anything.” ‘* Don’t you? Waal, I ruther reckon you do, What’s more, you bave got to settle, or you'll find yourself in hot water. I want a couple of thousand dollars. When I want a thing, I want it bad, as you'll find out.” ** You'll get no such sum of money from me. I owe you nothing, so Ill not give you a cent.” es Oh! won't you? Then we'll take it from ou. ‘* We? What do you mean?” ‘* By we I mean myself, and those who have until now been your faithful followers, They do not know of your intention to skip the town and leave them in the lurch, but when I tell them, they’ll know it, you bet! And takin’ into consideration the fact that they’re all b’ilin’ mad on account o’ the bulletin, it won’t take much to sie ’°em onto you. So, if you want ’em to make it pleasant for you, why, all you’ve got to do is to say the word.” ‘*So that’s your game, isit? Well, it won't work, I bave no intention of leaving Jackpot City.’ “Bah! Tell that to the marines! I know your plans just as well as you know them your- self. You can’t afford to be on the outs with me, providing you hope to keep out of prison. By being liberal with me, I can help you to es- cape from the camp, after you marry the girl, and reach a place of safety. Be stingy with me, and [’ll bet my horse ag’in’ a chaw of tobac- co that you don’t get out of Echo Canyon alive,” ** Who told you I was going to be married?” ‘*That don’t matter. I know it, and I ain’t the only one, either. The fact is, you’re hemmed in on all sides, and only by dealing with me is there any hope of yoursaving your neck, If the Mormons hear of your proposed flight, it will so infuriate them that they will pounce upon you and rend you limb from limb, and just so sure as you refuse to come to my terms, just so sure will I set them on you, You sabe?’ ‘* Curse you!” Meredith hissed, as he arose and paced the floor, ‘‘Curse you! I’ve a mind to murder you!” “Ob, dry pp on that gab! Ican killa dozen bunglers like you, while you’re killing one.” Meredith evidently did not doubt this. Any- how, his demeanor changed and he said: ‘* Well, I suppose there’s no use of making matters any worse than they are. So if two thousand dollars will buy you ovey to my side, why the money is yours.” “Fork it over, then, and I'll stand by you, through thick and thin!” Meredith arose and went toward hic big safe, but, instead of attempting to open it, he’sudden- ly wheeled, with a revolver in his grasp! ** You will try to bleed me for money will ye?” he cried, vengefully. ‘* Well, I'll endeavor to show you how you'll succeed, Take that, you dog!” And leveling his revolver full at the Danite, he fired, once, twice, thrice. Each bullet hit a vital spot, and, without so much as a groan, Podesta tumbled from his chair to the floor, stone dead. ** Another red crime to answer for!” the mur- derer gasped, as he gazed at his awful work. “Ugh! ut, why should I care? If they will come and hound me, their doom be on their own heads!” Seizing the murdered ruffian by the feet, he Deadwood Dick Jr.’s Decree. 13 dragged the body into a rear room and raisin a trap in the floor, tumbled the dead wretc down into a foul-smelling place. Then the trap was closed and firmly nailea down. That night the red-handed Elder of Jackpot City removed, bag and baggage, to the Inn, and his cottage was closed and locked, probably never again to be tenanted by its owner. Though he was missed, no one seemed to er- tertain a suspicion that Paul Podesta was false to the Mormon side, but all concladed that i ¢ had been frightened at Deadwood Dick’s Decree, and had left the camp. Hours rolled into days, and at last, Thursday came, finding no particular change in the situa- tion of affairs at Jackpot City. The citizens who proposed to remain under the promised new government, e]] wore the red ribbons of allegiance; while the faction who pro- posed to fight against invasion bad taken pos- session of the ore-mill, and grimly declared their intention of ‘* holding the fort,” to the last. They were well supplied with weapons and ammunition, and, as they were thoroughly in earnest as good Saints, it looked as if they might give a pretty tough battle. Old Avalanche had secured Sal Samantha’s consent to act as general over the Gentile fac- tion, so he was once more in his glory, and he gave his subjects a drill, twice daily. Meredith kept bimself boused at the hotel, most of the time. Between doubt and fear in regard to how matters were to end, he grew we, and nervous, and spent his money freely, for drink. He paid one’ visit to Nellie Prince, Thursday morning, to satisfy a gnawing suspicion in bis mind whether or not she intended to play bim false; but, as there was no apparent change in her demeanor, he went away feeling reassured that all would turn out right. Nothirg more was there to do, he was told, but present bimself at the Avalanche cottage at eleven o’clork that night, bringing with him his two victims of im- prisonment, John Prince and Joe Sands, Dead- wood Dick’s former pard, As for Dick, he was not seen in the camp in the interim between Monday and Thursday, although he came down acouple of times from the Tollgate on the sly, and consulted with Nellie and the Lanches. The parson from Lawson’s Ranch arrived Toursday afternown, end took vj} bis quarters nt the Lanche home, where he was met by Dick and acquainted with the part be was to play in the little drama that was to be enacted. At first be objected, on the ground that it was deception, and, consequently, a sin; but, when he learned what a murderous wretch Meredith was, he changed bis mind, pocketed a twenty-dollar ‘‘ ducat,” and consented to per- form the sham ceremony. The night came on with inky darkness, and a driving rain-storm; but all that was propitious for the work to be done, and neither Meredith nor Deadwood Dick were sorry for the storm. At eleven o'clock, the little front rocm of Avalanche’s shanty was lit up, but, as the cur- tains were drawn, no one on the outside would have known that any one was awake within, Seated in the front room were Old Avalanche, Sal Samantha and the minister, waiting the arrival of the would-be bridegroom, Presently there was a knock upon the door, ‘*Ha! that’s him!” the Annihilator chuckled, as he arose to answer the summons, ‘* Now, by the great ham-bone, the sarcus is about to begin!” and opening the door, he admitted three rain-drenched figures. First came Meredith, enveloped in a great army coat, and following him were two gaunt, famished-looking men, whose pale faces told the suffering they bad undergone, They were John Prince and Joe Sands. They were very weak, and were at once given choirs. ‘* Well, I’m here!” Meredith announced, ‘ to fulfill my part o’ the contract, and I want to get through with the businessat once. Where's the girl?” ‘* She'll be ready in a few minutes!” replied Sal Samantha, who had planted herself in front of a door leading toan adjoining room, ‘ Jest be seated, Brother Meredith, and she will be ready in a jiffy!” ‘ ‘*Have you got the bosses ready to leave camp after the ceremony?” asked Alva, “Yes, They’re waiting outside, Do you think there will be any trouble of escaping by wert the pass?” ‘ 4 ** Waal, I reckon not, peryidin’ I along!” the Annibilator replied. "WThe detictive ~