The Deadwood Dick Library: Denver Doll's Device — page 6: what you’re looking at

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

nae oe Denver Doll's Device. . While Old Pap winked, knowingly. “Here's to us, young fellers!” he said, as he took a vip from his private flask, ‘!Tbhet feller should know tbet thar’s no hereafter fer re- portersin Shinin’ Bar.” “We were talzin’ about some one who could sail in and capture McParland, the road-agent,” said Markward, grimly. ‘'You bet thar’s not ther man livin’ as con capture a feather out of that galoot’s cap, Iiven Burkey is afeard ter leave camp. Maybea reward would turn up some chapus bes got more luck than sense.” “That might eexsy be! a vaice exclaimed, and a strauger was for the first;seen standing near. ‘‘Supposing vou nominate some first- class sort of a reward, and ses how quick I'll | gobble on to it!” ‘Who are you}? demanded Mr. Verner, one of the solid men of the town—a speculator. Fich and influential But even though be asked the question, a close observer might have sur- ‘mised he only asked it to conceal the agita- tion that seived upon him, ut sight af the stranger. A strange smile came upon the face of the new-comer, as he gazed for a moment at Ver- ner, “T fancy you have no need to ask that ques- tion?’ be replied, in a tone that expressed very little admiration for the man he addressed. “But, for the information of all concerned, I am usually called Yankee, which answers all the purposes of a name!” Yankee! , - There were men in Shining Bar, who had heard of the name before. A name it was, peculiar to the mining regions of California; it belonged to an individual who never worked, more than to indulge in an occasional fight, or to wiu a fortuve by the turning of a card, and then very foolishly—as tbe worldly men of the mines viewed it—turn around and: donate it to - some charity, a ‘ nervy,’ practiced,well-educated, thoronghly experienced man - of - the - world, though he bad not long left his teens behind. Straight as an arrow, of alittle over medium hight, and well proportioned; possessed of re- markable musculur development, hard flesh,and great agility of motion, little wonder that be had the notoriety of being a formidable antago- nist as well as a friend to ‘ tie to.” In face he was handsome, with clearly cut, regniar features, a firm but pleasant mouth, and dark liquid eyes that had a power of mag- netic intensity in their gave; hair of a dark- brown hue, and worn in tight short curls over his shapely head, and a handsome mustache up- on his lip. His garments were of coarse hut servicenble material, the pants being thrust into a pair of top-boots, and tho jacket open at tho throat, exposing to view a marblelike neck, A slouch praime hat rested npon his head, weapons of fine finish were in bis belt, and a repeating rifle in his hand, completed an ensemble at once striking and dashing. The announcement of his name caused the crowd to stare, but had no more visible effect upon Verner, than had the first sight of him. _ “¥es, Pm Yankee, and Id like no better job han to adjust the ncosa about the neck of Mc- Parland, the road-agent, I assure you, gents, Propose fat reward and I'm your man Mg “Phe people of Shining Bar wiil undoubtedly use discretion in regard to whom they pay re wards,” sneered Verner, as Le turned away. ‘* Tf you mean that ag an ipsinualion, Valen- tine Verner, permit me to remark that I do not deam it of the slightest impertance what you think,” Yankee retorted, as be sent a stern glance after the speculutor. ‘I did not eome here to bave trouble with you, but if you pre; fer, I can undoubtedly accommodate you!” ‘Verner walked away in silence, and the stage came booming down into the town just them loaded with passengers, inside and out, and with Mickey Pryor, the boss Jehuof the road, ceacuine his long-lashed- whip over the eight-in- hand. ; But it was a sorry-looking crowd the stage bronght in that night, for the looks of the pas- seugers told the old, old story, as well #3 words could have done—the stage had met McParland and his merry men. Even Pryor was sullen, and set his horses back upon their haunches, before the Post-office, with a will, and allowed the passengers to get off without a word, “Gone to thunder!” was bis simple annonnce- ment, when Wells-Fargo’s agent came forward, “1Twasn’t no use to be mulish; they were ten ter one ag’in’ us, an? bib us in w new place!” A how! of anger weut up from the crowd, for many miners and some speculators had moneys or valuable property coming to them on that stage, as well as letters and papers. o that for the remainder of that evening Shining Bar was in a turmoil] cf commotion over the a ee and the streets were never for once deserted of an excited crowd. Among the passengers who aligbted from the stage, Yankee notived the figure of a woman, clad in deepest mourning, with her face so well concealed as to be invisible to outward gase, Sbining Bar boasted of a commodious board- ing-house, which was conducted in a quiet orderly manner, to tle exclusion of all the rougl element, and thither the vailed womap wenda ber way, as if fanniiar with the town. ‘Yankee watched her until she had disappeared with an interested gaze, and even then he sd sauntered about the Bar as to keep the board- ing-bouse under surveillance. “ Strikes me I have seen that woman before, under_ other circumstances,” he murmured, ‘but [cannot place her now, It “is the grace- ful, agile motion of her figure that recalls her.” Half an hour Jater Denver Dall left the board- ing-house—for Denver Doll the vailed woman ~was—and advanced toward the Post-office. Then a light of understanding entered the Sport's eyes. (Ah, I have it now! I thonght I was not mistaken, The Qneen of Detectives, eh? I know her, but she does not know me, ? wonder what brings her here? Probably after the devil, MeParland. Hal ha! hal” He watched ber go into the Post-office, and come out again, when she hetonk her way to the long frame shanty called the ‘‘ Monaco,” Here, night and day, various games were hotly contested, and money exchanged hands