Activate Javascript or update your browser for the full Digital Library experience.
Previous Page
–
Next Page
OCR
Deadwood Dick, Jv., Branded. .
7
“There’s something in that, I guess.”
“Now, what I propose is this: We will
count up to ten, in unison, keeping per-
fect time, hands straight down. at, the
sides, and at the word ten we will fire.”
“T can’t find any fault with that.”
“Tt is as fair as we can make it. Are
your weapons in order?”
“Yes; and yours?” a
“The same. Place yourself in posi-
tior.” .
The outlaw had laid his Winchester on
the ground, and with a-revolver in each
hand, he stood erect, hands at his sides.
Deadwood Dick was already in that po-
sition, for the agreement had so far
. progressed that it seemed useless for him
to hold the Red Rover under cover when
the end was sonear. _
“Now,” said Dick, “count with me,
and by the time we reach six or seven it
will sound as one voice. Remember,
neither is to lift an arm until ten is
heard; then you may shoot just as quick
as you can. Are you all ready to begin?
I don’t want to hurry you.” '
“T am all ready; let her go.”
“All right, begin: One, two, three,
four,” they started, and by the time four
Was spoken they were in time and uni-
son,.and it sounded as Dick hag said, as
one voice. “ Five, six, seven—”
Crack! : :
’ The report of a rifle rang out upon the.
“still air. . ‘
Deadwood Dick gave a start, partly
raised his right hand, and fell forward
on his face. :
*.- Captain Joaquin looked around in
8reatest surprise, and hesitated only a
moment before he sprang to the cover
of,a huge boulder that lay near at hand.
‘Evidently he did not want a dose of the
Same medicine, .
A laugh rang out, the laugh of a wo-
man, and a young woman made her ap-
pearance from the point where the rifle
had been fired.
She was fair-looking, clad in a bright
‘jacket, short skirt cnd a sombrero, her
i
«
feet incased in stout shoes and leggings.
She had a rifle in her hands.
At sight of her Captain Joaquin leaped
from cover.
“Susana!”
“As you see, my love!”
“But what have you done? Why did
you do this?”
“Why did I do it? Why, but to save
the life of him I love!” .
“ But, it was a fair fight; I had no right
to any advantage; he was giving me a
chance for my life.” : f
“And your Susana gave you a better
chance; ha, ha, ha! But, who was he?
Some hateful sheriff, I suppose, who
would not let you mind your own busi-
ness your own way.”
‘“No, it was Deadwood Dick, Junior.”
“ Heavens!”
The young woman started and paled.
“Did you not suspect that it was he,
Susana?”
“Not for a moment. Had I, I would
have missed him with nervousness, sure.”
“Well, the deed is done, and we will
Rot cry over it now. A kiss, my pet, and
then I will show you treasure that will
make your eyes sparkle.”
The young woman dropped the rifle
and threw herself’ into the man’s em-
brace, and their lips met. He caressed
her for a moment, then let her go and she
Tecovered her weapon.
“So, you would not take the chances,
eh?” said Captain Joaquin.
“How could I, seeing how cool and de-
termined he looked, and imagining you
falling forward with a bullet in your
heart— Heavens, no!”
“And yet it was a square deal, the
squarest I ever got in my life, Susana. If
he had killed me, it would have been a
fair game, and I could not have made a
kick when I found myself suddenly
transported.”
The young woman laughed.
“You are not dying yet, though, if I
can prevent,” she said. ‘‘Come, we must
‘see about that treasure.”
“We must first see if you killed your
man.”
“Killed him? He is so dead he will
never move again in this world, Joa-
quin.” .
““And he can well be spared, for he has
been a terror to gentlemen of my call-
ing all his life. Your name will be ex-
alted, my pet. There will be a big price
on your head.”
' “And my Joaquin will defend me.”
“To the last drop of blood, you are
right.” a
They were walking to where Deadwood
Dick lay while talking thus.
As they came near they heard a slight
groan, and the young woman gave a
start and turned pale.
“Your shot was not so fatal, after all,”
said the Red Rover,
“He must be dying,” said the young
woman, “I aimed carefully at his head.”
“And succeeded finely in stunning
him. See there, you made a neat little
crease just over the temple. You will
have to finish the job,” | >
“Heavens, no!”
“Why not?” :
“T could not do it now, since you are
out of danger; besides, he is down and
cannot help himself.” .
Captain Joaquin drew a pistol and
cocked it, .
“No, no!” cried the woman, catching
‘his arm. “ You must not, you must not!”
“Tt must be his life or mine,” said the
Red Rover, grimly. “ Better now, while
he is unconscious. Out of the way a
moment, Susana.”
“No, no! You must not—you shall not!
Did you not tell me that it was a fair
fight, that he was giving you the fairest
show you ever had in your life? For
shame!”
Captain Joaquin flushed, and- thrust
his revolver back into its holster spite-
fully. He recalled the chance that Dead-
wood Dick had given him for his life,
and was for the moment abashed, under
the. scornful gaze of this woman who
loved him,
The next moment Deadwood Dick
opened his eyes,
CHAPTER VIII.
CAPTAIN JOAQUIN’S RETREAT.
Dick was dazed.
It was a moment before he could recall
what had passed. . ,
When he did so, he realized that the
situation had greatly changed, and could
not tell whether minutes-or hours had
passed. -
But his mind quickly cleared, as a
magic drop will clear a glass of clouded
water, and he took in the situation and
the new-comer upon the ground, and
guessed the rest.
He remembered that he and his foe
had not counted up to’the number that
was to have been the signal for them to
fire, and hence some one else had taken
a hand in the game. That Captain Joa-
_quin had not fired the treacherous shot
he was well aware. :
The Red Rover stood motionless the
last Dick remembered of him, :
All this passed through Dick’s mind i
the few brief seconds before he spoke.
“So, you are alive, are you?” said
Captain Joaquin. “It was a close call
for you, Deadwood Dick.” .
“Who shot me?” asked Dick, feeling
of his hurt.
““No matter who,” was the reply. “It
was not I, nor: was it done by any order
or consent of mine. I had no thought or
intention of giving you anything but a
fair fight.” ty
“Tam willing to believe that. It must
have been some friend of yours, some
one who feared for your life. Well, such
is the fortune of war, and it appears that.
the tables have been turned. You now:
4
hold the joker, and I am in your power
“There-is no denying that.” .
“And what am I to expect?” 4
“You will have to dance to my tune,
now, seeing that the tables have turned,
as you say, and I ain now the fiddler. I
gave you warning of that.”
“And I remember that I reminded you
that should thig thing occur, you would
be honor bound to deal'as honorably with
me as I dealt with you, which you prom-
ised you would do,”
“And he will keep his promise, sir,’
spoke up the young woman. i
She looked at Captain Joaquin, N
“Yes, of course,” Captain Joaquin:
snarled. “At the same time, you must
admit that self-preservation is the first.
law of nature. I must treat you as I
would a rattlesnake, which, if I let it
s0, would turn and bite me,”
“Ts your former proposition
open?” asked Dick. *
“What was that?” wo,
“To join you.” “
“No, that is closed.” 2:43
Dick smiled, ~
“T was not wrong, then, in my estimate
of your earnestness when you made it,
even if I did give you the benefit of the
doubt,” he said.
“That is a past question,” said the
Red Rover. “You have since assured
me that nothing could tempt you to join
me, but on the other hand that you in-
tend to crush me.”
“Let it pass,” Dick waived.
Feeling by this time able to do so, he
got upon his feet, but he had to lean
agairfst a boulder for support. ~
ost
His head ached and was dizzy, and the. ‘
shot had given. him an indescribable
numb feeling throughout his entire body.
It had been about as close a call as he
had ever experienced.
“You are now my prisoner,” said the
outlaw. “Susana, you secure his Weap-
ons—there they lie on the ground—and I
will handcuff him again. I will. put on
that other pair, I think; seeing that you
had the choice of selection before,” to
Dick.
“You have it all your own way, just
now,” said Dick. “I am not in it, so to
say.’
y.”-
“You are right in it,” the outlaw dis-
puted. ; : :
“Well, no matter. If you are going to
handcuff me, though, I hope you will
dress the wound I have received.”
The young woman opened her lips to
say something, but withheld her words
and looked to Captain Joaquin for the re-
sponse. Dick belleved that-he had a
friend in her,
His first thought had been that it was
she who had fired at him. He was now
in doubt on that point,
“Yes, we'll tie it up,”
snapped.
Revolver in hand, he stepped forward
and felt in Dick’s jacket pocket for the
remaining pair of handcuffs, :
They were there ready to his hand,
the outlaw.
still —
and he brought them forth and snapped ©
ee
~.