The Deadwood Dick Library: Denver Doll's Device — page 31: what you’re looking at

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

atoll ' ‘Denver Doll’s Device, a e ™e back my child, and perhaps He will send me my husband. Then 1 hope for a new life, Poor Jobn! villain though he bas been, he bas earned my gratitude, for he brought me back to life after at emping to kill me, and then gave ime up after all. Deeper and deeper the gloom increased in the guich, and with its oncoming increased Dora's foreboding, for she was well satisfied that Val- entine Miller would not long allow matters to remain as they were,— At last, when darkness had settled down in earnest, Dora saw a number of the road-agents pause in front of her store, as if waiting for somebody, or something, The somebody proved to be Verner, for as soon as hs made his appearance, the whole crowd flocked into the store, the speculator in the lead, ; Dora stood bebind the counter, w:ci: a pair of revolyers drawn and cocked, ready for nse, There was a defiant expression upon her face, too, which told that she would stand for her rights, to the bitter end. As u Weil, you see ’'m back! Verner said with a sneer, ‘‘and I dare say you understand the sig- nificance of my coming.” “I see that you are afraid of me, and had to Tun for reinforcements!” Dora replied, scorn- y. 3 _ “And I got them, too, Consequently, there is nothing for you to do but to come to my terms. Hither you have got to pack your duds, and leave this town, or marry me. I've been looking for a wife for some time, and don't xnow asI could make a better selection than yourself. These are emphatically my terms!” “That isa matter of very slight importance to me!” Dora an3wered, calmly, but with in- tense resoiution, ‘‘I am not afraid to die, and Imay as well die defending myself, as to sub- mit t insult at your hand3, Remember that I have got the drop, ani I'll make some one sick before I gat through with you!” Verner hesitated whether to give an order to his followers to charge on her, or not, for he felt sure that she would fire at him first, and likely kill him, So that ho was literally at bay again, “Well, if you won't surrender in one way, I can make you in another!” he cried tarning on his heel, and leaving tha store, followed by-his men. Dora rionly locked the door after them, and Tan up-stairs bo peer out of the window. Gerty and little Ethel were huddled in one corner, thoir faces showing that they were alarmed. ‘ ; **Gbeer up!” Dora encouraged. “If I mis- take not, there is a good chanco for us yet, I have again sent. Valentine Verner off, and it is to be hoped he will stay this time!” From neither tae front nor the back window could she see anything of the enemy, and she, therefore, concluded that they bad retired to the Monaco, 9 consult on the best plan of securing their point, So, biddine Gerty to ha hopeful, she once Ture went down-stairs, remembering that she ee #129 left the back door unlocked, (tm veaching the lower room, to her surprise, she beheld Yankees and Denver Doll enteriag ania the neglected door. With a glad cry, the Sport sprung forward and clasped her to his breast, and this time she a not refuse him, but clung to him affection. ately. “Thank God! we are at last reunited,” Yan-~ kee said. ‘Is Ethel safef’ : ‘Yes. She is with Gerty up-stairs.” “Then we must make our escape from here at once,” ~ : “tt is tuo late now!” Denver Doll cried, ‘‘ for the building is being surrounded!” Examination proved this to be correct, Tho outlaws had assembled, en masse, at both ends of the shanty, and it was buta few minutes ere the crackle of flames was beard! “By Heaven! they have fired the house!” Yankees cried. ‘‘It is now surrender or perish by fire!” “Then Jet us all die together, ratber than have little Ethel fall into Val Verner’s hands to be murdered,” was Dora's resolve, “So say If’ Denver Doll eried. ‘ But let us eet oe despair. There may hea chance, after r > ten And her words were prophetic, for suddenly shouts and rifle-shofs were heard from a dis- tance, to which tbe outlaws responded, “ The soldiers! the soldiers!” exclaimed Yan- hey ‘They have come in the nick of time.” t was true. 2 With e determination for victory Uncle Sam's boys advanced, and the rain of bullets swept away the lives of the desperadoes like chaff be- fore the wind. Some, by skillful dodging, ese caped with their lives, but they were few. When the Lattle was over—for it was of sbort duration—our i friends in the shanty had just time to cseape from what before had promised to be a fiery tomb, and there was great rejoic- ing in Shining Bar among those who gatbered to their protection... There is little to add. The soldiers had swooped down on the Bar, guided by Reporter Jones, Among the dead were found Valentine Ver- ner, his daughter Isabel, Monroe Miller, and Burke, the faithless Vigilante chief. Of the other characters we have dealt with, Yankee Hisler with_his wife and child is now living happily in iladelphia, where also is Charles Pygmalion Jones, who is still aspiring to be a newspaper man. Gerty, Denver Doll's sister, has married Lieus tenant Roberts of the army, ‘ Denver Doll, with her pard Yakie, is stil do valuable detective duty in the West. alt Christie bas gone ont of the detective in business, and now handles the razor for a liveli- : hood. McParland has embarked ina paying busi ness, in an Hastern city, and witha good wife to aid him in his efforts, is rapidly acquiring a competency, Shining Bar is still a prosperous town, but there is little there of the excitement that i bere was prior to that all-important 20th day o% November,