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Deadwood Dick Jr.’s Decree.
astir, and return here, where I shall spend the
most of my time until Thursday night.”
“Allright. I will beon band 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,
ALITTLE GAME THAT DIDN’T WORK. |
Lzavinc his horse with the other horses at
the mouth of the Pass, Dick made his way on
foot into the camp, and arrived at the Jackpot
Inn in time for supper, of which repast he par-
took heartily. a
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 in all probability take place.
s he sat smoking his cigar, he noticed a
roughly dressed, red-whiskered man, who pac
to and froin 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
persistently continued his tramp in front of the
otel.
‘*T 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 ba exactly what
he seems.” . -
When he bad 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 ascrawling style of chiro-
graphy the by. no means aristocratic cognomen,
“Ike Davis, Prescott, A, T.”
“Got anew arrival, eb?’ Dick remarked to
the General, who, in the absence of paying
customers, was regaling himself with a cock-
“Yas, <A chap wi’ red whiskers,” the
General assented, ** Another convert, I reckon.”
3s 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 Prince.”
‘Which Miss Prince?”
“The man’s gal what is shet up!” was the
lucid explanation,
‘Miss Nellie!” thought Dick. ‘‘I wonder
what she can want of me? Whereis she, boy?”
“e Down ‘by the crush-mill. Come! I'll sbow
Dick glanced at his watch, and found that it
was after ten o'clock.
“Perhaps the girl bas got hack from her visit
to her father, and has something to tell me!’ be
mused. .
So, bidding the urchin lead the way he left
the hotel, L -
The boy kept trotting along ahead, until they
were close to the mill, when he suddenly disap-
pearel. 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 dsn’t look quite right, hang me if
it does! Perhaps I have been steered into a
trap!” -
He had no time for further reflection, for
there wasarush 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 gulch, 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,
savagely, as he aimed a wicked but unsuccess-
ful blow at the sport.‘ You’re our mutton this
time, you cussed Yank!” .
‘| grace?”
‘“*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, ‘*T’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 bis 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, acd 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, “Sor I'll blow
yer heads off, Git! you two bloody Mormon
curs, or down goes your shanty!”
«That settled it, Podesta and bis companions
gave a glance at the ‘‘man with the pops,” and
then turned and beat a basty retreat. .
‘* Well, pardner, I reckon they were giving it
to you pretty hot!” Davis observed, addressing
ick.
‘*Oh! 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
ere.
‘By way of the pass?”
“e vos, t had a hard time getting here, too,
but I found the gatekeeper was an old acquaint-
ance o’ mine, and be let. me through, and give
me my cues, so’s I’@ know how to work the
racket.”
‘“* Ah! IT understand. Well, as the war seems
to ke over for the time being, I suppose we
might as well meander back toward the hotel.”
Davis assented, so they returned. toward the
Jackpot .
‘“T 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 City?”
“Ou! 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 sbarper
glance, - .
** Yes, so I have understood.
had a young wife, did he not?”
** So I understand.”
‘“‘ Kirke skipped the town a defaulter, and left
his wife behind to stand the brunt of the dis-
Kirke formerly
* 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 nepbew, 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. .
‘I 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 man ends,’ To-
morrow I shall hunt the red-handed scoundrel
down and put a bullet through his cowardly
hearti”
‘If you make an attempt on Meredith’s life,
you -vill get yourself into trouble.” ‘
** How so?”
. Because Meredith ismy game. I came hero
for the purpose of arresting bim and turning
him over to the care of the Carson authorities,
and that I intend todo, Justice will have adeal
first, and after it basa chance, your turn will
come!” .
‘* Ah! so that's the how, el?” replied Davis,
slowly. -* Well, solongasI am sure that the
accursed villain receives the punishment he de-
serves, I reckon I won’t interfere. But if the
court tries bim and don’t hang him, why I'll 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. *
to tell you where it is?”
The accommodations of the Jackpot Inn were)!
not of the most fastidious order, and a bed and !'
a stool comprised the fgrniture 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, bad any noc-
turnal prowlers desired to gain entrance to the,
room, they could have 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, be was astonished
to find that he was not the only occupant of the
room. , UY ba -
Davis, with the.red whiskers, was seated be, ‘
side the bed, and, one of his cocked revolversf .) { }
was leveled full at the astonished detective’s [
ead.
‘* Hello! What the blazesare you doing here?”
Dick demanded. So
**T’ve come for that boodle!” was thegrim =< «
announcement. ‘'Take care! Don’t move an °°
inch or T'l salivate you! Either I get the - {)’
boodle, or else I take your life. ‘What’s your =:
answer?” oY
** What boodle do you mean?” 4
‘* The Kirke fortune,” ton
‘*Humph! I’ve not got it.” oe
“You lie! You_brought it to Jackpot City |
to give it to the Princes; and now, I want , !
it, or, when I leave this room, you will be a = 5
‘*T tell you I haven’t got it. You can search: .
my clothes, or the room, if you doubt my:
veracity.”. 2
‘*Maybe you haven't got it here, but you’ve® - '
got it concealed somewhere.” - :
‘* Supposing I have? Do you think I am going
‘© Tf you don’t, I'll blow your brains out!” :
**Get out! You ain’t such a fool as that!” nee
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.” "> « . tone
‘“*T don’t care a cuss what ye say!” Davis”, '\.
growled, ‘If you don’t tell/ me where the >
hoodle is T’ll have the satisfaction of killing you -\
anyhow.” ‘
“You will, eh? Jerusalem! but ycu’re a>
bloody-minded cuss!”
‘*Come! I’ve no time for menkeyin’, Either
you spit out the secret while ’'m counting a
hundred, or off goes the top of your bead!”
“Whew! Can you really count as many as
8 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 con-
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
girl, balf of it belongs to. me, anyhow. So, if
you're content to accept the other balf, why, I
reckon we can make a dicker!” .
“How mucb will I get?”
“ About twenty thousand.”
“Allright. Dll take that ratker than resort
to harsher measures!” Davis accepted. ** Where’s
the money?” 5 .
Nt here. Ishall have to go with you to
get it.
“Then get up and drers_ycurself. - But, mind i
you, [shall plug youif Icatch you making a «
tricky move!” .
You needn't: fear, Jsha’n’t take any such
risks, What time is it?”
“Tt lacks about an hour of daybreak,”
‘Then we'll bave just about time to get the i
money, and skip before the camp is astir.” ‘
Mick arose, and proceeded to dress bimself,
which opperation did not require much time.
Davis watched his every movement narrowly,
and kept bis revolver ready for instant use, fh
case of emergency,
When Bristol was ready, ke led the way down-
stairs, and the two men cautiously quitted the
otel,