The Deadwood Dick Library: Denver Doll's Device — page 17: what you’re looking at

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

or ee and seeing that Yankee was momentarily pow- erless to act, he turned and ran like a deer, Before Kisler could disengage herself, the King of the Road was at asufe distance from sight or barre, ankee finaly put Miss Carroll off, and stood with a baffled expression gazing in the direction the outlaw had gone, Then he turned his gleaming eyes upon Crys ! “You have succeeded well in freeing the maa whose life itis my aim to take. Perhaps your lover canthank you for it—l cannot!” he said, bitterly. “T am not so fortunate as to have a lover, and what I did was simply tosave you from doing murder!” she panting calmly, ‘Come! go back to Shining Bar, and thank me thai your hand is not stained with human blood.” He uttered a sort of hollow, unearthly laugh at her earnestness, ; ‘*Maybe you are right,” he said. “We will go back before we are discovered. I feel some- what exbausted |” She took bis arm, and as they walked leisurely back toward the town she found that be had spoken the truth, He was really weaker than he would admit, and it was only his nerve power that kept him upuntil ho reached tho poarding-house, where, after bidding Orystal good-by, he slowly ascended the ladder to his room. And he had no sooner gained his bed than his senses took leave of him, ‘Twere necessary that a couple of days of comparative quist should ensue, in Shining Bar, in urder to give the excitable inhabitants thereof time to wear off the effects of the sev- eral stirring events that had occurred, The miners settled down to work, the gam- blers phed their vocation with less profit and the main street presented a scene of less bustle than before. : Denver Doll was occasionally seen about town, but her actions were not such as tf) arouse suspicion that she was in any way trying her land at her business. Yankee had got out-again, and Valentine Verner was seen on the street’ and about the mines, which he now only controlled as man- ager, having sold out his interesta, But even when in lack of a stirring sensation, Shining Bar was destined to have something to attract attention and comment. This something was embodied in the person of a Mile. Zoe, who had arrived on the stage, bag- gage and all, and had hired a marquee put up on a vacant spaze near the Monaco, and then hnng out a banner, bearing the following: MLLE. ZOH, FORTUNE-TELLER AND SECOND-SIGHT SEBR. The Past, Present and Future Revealed, or Money Refunded, Here was a novelty that Shining Bar had never had cause to wonder at before, and natur- ally a ripple of curiosity was aroused, ~ at the mademoiselle looked like no one kmew, because she dressed in deepest black, and her face was ever hidden back of a heavy vail, enver s Revise. ; —_ She was seldom seen on the street, except go- ing to and from ber boarding-house to the mar — juee, : A couple of miners had ventured their half- eagle for an interview, and came out telling of the wonderful things Mlle, Zoe had: done, in the way of imparting information of the past, preseat and future. Yankee stood upon the steps of the Monaco, the third evening after McParland's escape, gazing at the marquee, ; ‘Pye half a notion to call on Mlle. Zoe,’ he muttered to himself, **just to see what she is like, Guess I will.” He walked slowly over toward the marquee, and pulling aside the curtain, entered, half angry at himself for doing s0.- thin was but little that was attractive. A sort of raised platform or dais had been ar- | ranged, and covered by acarpet, Its only fur- niture was a chair, upon which sat the black- clad figure of a woman, whose face was deeply vailed, and hands gloved. | : = She bowed as Yankeo entered and approached her. ‘What will ze gentleman bave—his fortune told, or ze past, present and ze future revenled to him?” she asked, in a clear, winning tone, “Tf yow ll drop off the French and talk U. 9, A., Il have you attempt to explain my affairs,” Yankee replied, in a bluff but good-natured way. : Ot can talk pure American,” Mlle. Zoo pe sweetly. ‘I think T can tell you much tha will surprise you. You wish to know of tha past?” ‘* Yes—you might as well grind out the whole grist, since it costs the same!” the Sport replied dryly, ‘ Well, you area Californian?” “You could have easily learned that.” “‘T do not depend except on myself for infor- mation. You have for some years led a wild life, gambling being one of your passions, You loved one gitl—were beloved by two, but wedded the one of your choice, who also had another lover, to whom she was not entirely indifferent. Well, after marriage, you fai to break from your old habit of gambling, and in consequences you and your wife failed tougres and you grew jealous because she chatted now and then with her oid lover, yourrival Tbings went along, until, ina fit of jealousy, you left home, When you returned, repentant, it was too late. Your wife had also gone, taking her child with her!” “ By Heaven, you are right!” Yankee cried, excitedly. ‘It was I who was to blame for all. But, woman, wio are you who know so much of my history? Speak, for I will know!” And he took a step forward, authoritatively, failed — vase | But a revolver gleaming in her hand caused him to pause. ‘*Tam Zoe, the fortune-tellor; you camo here to pay me for information, and I trust, act like a gentleman,” she said, quietly. ‘ Shall I pro- ‘©Go ahead,” Yankee responded, wincing. a ‘* Well, to resume, this wife and child wan- dered_into the mountains, and were pe and the wife was murdered by McParland, the