The Deadwood Dick Library: Denver Doll's Device — page 25: what you’re looking at

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

CHAPTER X, THE STAMPEDE, AND A BOUNCE FOR THE BRIG AND CHIEF, TH next day was the nineteenth day of No- vember, To several persons considerable interest was attached to the fact. Karly in the morning there rode furiously down into the town a horseman—an old, white- whisker-d, shabbily-dressed pilgrim, who, judg- ing by appearances, had rode long and fast, ha dashed along through the main strect, he blew loud blasts upon a cavalry trumpet, with the evident intention of arousing the town. ae. to say he succeeded, would be drawing it mild, - In a very few minutes literally the whole pop- ulation of the camp was gathered in front of the Post-offse, where the eccentric stranger was engagid in tackiug up a buze poster, which had been written out in pen print or rather witha lettering: brush, by some one who was-evidently familiar with the art. With intense exgerness did the folk of Shining Bar devour the contents of the poster, after it was nailec_up, and the reading thereon, created a more instantuneous commotion than had any- thing in the way of a sensation that had struck ths town for a long while, Eaerly over and over, was the bill perused, and this4s the information it contaiued; “EXTRAORDINARY NOTIOE TO EVERYBODY! es Grextet D ‘svovery Hover Known! Richegt mines just opened at Wildeat City, that the world.has evar szen! The earth strewn with auggels— he quartz assays two thousand dollars to the ton. Claims for sale. —M-chanics wanted. Five thousand men, women and children waated instant- ee fo de ate pana of a ops will act es guide, Tsn dollars, and upward, a day guaranteed every one, ues & Co., O oners,”” If ths reader has ever bai a chance. to become acquainted with the nature of the average class of inhabitauts of western mining-towns, it will not seem strange thatsuch a notice should set the ball of excitement a-rolling. Western history records more than one in- stance where moderate-paying camps have been depupal ited in a day, in favor of some new and. promisiag strilce, y And the effsct on Shining Bar of the above | notice was-but a repetition of what other camps sanguine aspirants for had experienced. i ‘ First one man declared farawell to Shininz Bur, and made off to pack up his faw worl lly effects; then another followed suit, and another, and another, until the movement became a | stampad>. Conspicuonsly prominent in urging on the fortune was Verner, and often he slipped a ten-dollar gold-plece into ths hand of some rather doubtful pilgrim, say- ing: “@o ahend, pard, and don’t shirk when ¢ chance is open for you to makea stake. If you ever get able to pay this back, remember who — preed you on; if you don’t, it will neither make wor break,” Invariably this would break all resolutions to Denver Doll’ a [Pare pss Device. stay in Shining Bar, and tke pilgrim would be added to the general hegira, By noon the train wes ready to start, and when it moved away up the gujch, not over a score of people were left in Shining Bar, and those were such as Verner had personally or- dered to stay with him. So far his unparalleled plotting had worked well, As soon as the stampeders were safely away from the camp, Verner and Monroe Miller started for the camp of McParland, the outlaw, where, by prearranged orders, all was to be ready for the capture of McParland and such of kis men as would not join in the movement, The journey was accomplished without inci- dent. The rendezvous of the road brigand was lo~ cated in asmall mountain-locked valley, many kundred feet above the level of Shining Bar, where a searcher would hardly have expected to find a camp, There was one large strong cabin, and several smaller ones, formed in a circle about the re- treat, tne center being used as a sort of plaza and corral for the horses, When Verner and Miller reached this valley, none of the band were visible about it—so they made their way to the largest cabin and en- tared, There were fifty or more men in the apart- ment, all gathered: about the tables, but there was scarcely any notice taken of the entrance of the two conspirators, who had masked them- selves like the rest of the band. McParland himself was seated in one corner, engaged in playing cards with one of his men, Miller and Verner advanced to where Steward the Spaniard was seaved aloue at a table, “Well! is everything all right” Miller asked in a low tone. ‘*Have you made any pro- gress?” - '** You bet! Every man in the room, except McParland, has joinet the movement.” “Good? Pll cose the matter!” He walked over to where the captain was seated, and leveled a revolver at him, ‘Mac, the jig is up!” he said, grimly. ‘'The boys have got tired of you as » commander, and also of thiscamp. So we’ve gobbled up Shinin; Bar, as a place of rendezvous, and have electe Val Verner captain, in your place. You are our prisouer.” That McParland was somewhat surprised was evident, but be controlled himself with remark- able coolness. ‘*TIs that so?” he said. ‘* Well, ve had an idea for some time that there was mutiny brew- ing, and am more prepared than you imagine, Ttender my resienation with all willingness, having made up my mind to retire from the profession for once and all time,” “You bet you'll retire!” Verner added, with achuckle. ‘‘ We are going to make you a pris- ouer and leave you here, under guard, until we cam communicate with Uncle S1m’s blue-coati who are said to.be in the mountains, when, we can get any reasopable reward out of them, we will let ’em have you for hemp-stretching OSes, _ “Curse you! Is this the sort of* gratitude ’ Pies) dates ae ee ee