The Deadwood Dick Library: Denver Doll's Device — page 30: what you’re looking at

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

~o yenture there, especially in the raiment of a woman, z Denver Doll and Yankee took their departure toward Shining Bar, bent upon the rescne of Dora, Gerty and little Ethel, if they were in the camp. The walk to the vicinity of the outskirts of the town was accomplished without incident, when they halted, and after a short consultation Doll crept cautiously on in advance to recon- noiter, ae “SS In a few minutes sve returned, “There are six men doing guard duty below here, and the prospects of getting past them are not encouraging,” sbe said, dubiously. ‘ The only way Ican suggest to ged past them is to overpower one of them and put on bis togs, in- cluding the mask, and then allow the other one of us to slide by, The are positioned across the gulch, at intervals of about fifty feet, and by pouncing onto one the nearest to one side or the other of the gulch, I think it is possible we might make a go of it.” : “We can but try,” Yankee assented. And with catlike movements they glided for- ward, bent upon Capturing one of the guards and making their entree into Shining Bar in spite of the barriers that had been placed to op- pose them. : CHAPTER XI. THE BIG SURROUND, CRYSTAL’ Sat had taken no part in the stampede, She had half suspected some devil- try back of it all, but having full reliance on herself, had made up her mind to stay and see the whole business through. _ ’ Besides, Gerty, the sister of Denver Doll, had come to her, during the night preceding the ’ stampede, bringing with her little Etbel, and a ~ note from McParland, which said: “Dora:—I send yu, herewith, eis child, and the woman who has taken care of it pray, posses’ J; the woman is. my half-sister and a er of Denver Doll. Realizing that there is no longer any use of aspiring to the rightful possession of yourself, 1 am going to forever leave the West, oat try to begin e over ue |, in some other place, Forgive me for the wrongs I have done you, and ge - beck to him who loves you, and is repentant for the _past. J. MuP.” And knowing it would not then be safe to ex- pose little Ethel in Shining Bar, was another reason why Crystal, or Dora, as we shail here- after call her, did not join In the stampede, She secreted Gerty and little Ethel in the up- stairs room, and patiently awaited the reappear- auce of the handsome Sport, Yankee, When Verner returned to tho Bar, accom- panied by the road-agents, she comprehended the situation, and became fearful that she had done wrong in not joining in the exodus, But it was now too late to escape, so all she had to do was to be brave aud hope for the best. Tt was the middle of the afternoon before she received a call from any one, and then it was m Valentine Verner, ““Well! well! so you are bere yet, are you?” yrowled, as ha entered the store. ro «ertainly! Who has a better right” the never lived than since it has been ‘should be plucky woman demanded, ‘I’ve got an eve. that’s not in the habit of closing-at every thin dodge— hence, I didn t enthuse at all when the stampede took place,” eo ‘* Humph! perhaps you'll be sorry you didn’t. I don’t believe the ¢ in the town.” > “Tt won't try their nerves, I fancy, if I mind gang will allow apetticoater my own business. And besides, I don’t intend — 4 to be either wronged or insulted. The first per- son who offers to put me out of the town against my will, I will shoot through the heart, and the same sort of a dose is waiting for his comrades. Tve taken my stand here, and I'll fight it outon this line if it takes all winter.” Verner looked surprised, for he knew but lit‘Ie about the spirit and pluck of the young woman, He had supposed that he would havea soft thing in subduing her, and either molding her to his will, or else forcing her to leave Shining Bar. “Ob! talk is cheap,” he sneered. ‘1 fancy three-score of men ought to be able to conquer one weak woman, so there's no use for you to be saucy to me, as your fate rests entirely in my hands, Do you know thati have made up my mind who you are, girl? You are Dora Eisler.” “Tf you think so, you are welcome to your belief. Several other persons bave cherished such a fancy, but have got left. Understand, Mr. Valentine Verner, that Iam notabit afraid of you, and if you make any more of your threats in my pluce, Vl just salivate you right where you stand.” k And she suddenly shoved a pair of formidable six-shooters over the counter at him, He leaped back with a snarl, “Take care! dov't shoot!” he erfed; for, at the muzzle of a pistol;a more arrant coward | alentine Verner. ‘ You are too hasty, my dear young woman.” Ss Well, be that asit may, if you are not toad in getting out of my house, there will be nee of an undertaker here, you “bet! three—get !” - pe eis One, two, The fire in her eye warned him that it was a death to disobey, With a growi of rage, he shook his fist at her, and took his departure, ‘He will be back again, ll wager. He's a bad man, and I'm afraid tbat ve undertaken more than I can handle,” Dora muttered. “ But I will stand game to the last!” : She went up-stairs and told Gerty of what had happened, and cautioned her to keep little © Ethel very quiet, lest their presence inthe house etected. Then she returned to the store, and waited, pee The afternoon- crept away, and shadows be an to hover over the town, but they did not lessen her apriety. She dreaded the darkness, for -with it would come peril to her and the ones she wished ta conceal, - ‘ F In turning. over some cards upon the show- case, she came to one Yankee bad written and left there. ref With feelings better imagined than described, — she perused the message, and tears gathered in her oe Vi identity,” done wrong to deceive him e,yout 2 she murmured, ‘But, Go? aa. -nl