Deadwood Dicks Doom | Page 2

passengers to-day and they at once disembarked from the stage, upon the plank wall in front of the Poker House.
They were widely at contrast, in appearance, though evidently traveling companions, the one being a pretty young lady, while the other was a long-goared, loosely constructed colored man, of the "darkest ray serene."
The young lady evidently was not over seventeen or eighteen years of age, but was the possessor of a fine figure, and prettily chiseled features, set off by starry black eyes, and wavy brown hair. She was attired with a long ulster duster over her dress, a silk scarf about her throat, and a vailed hat upon her head, and was by all odds the trimmest little craft that had anchored in Death Notch in many a day. The darky was a very sable individual, with a genuine negro physique from the thick-lipped mouth of huge dimensions, to the rolling ludicrous eyes, and light curling hair. His feet, too, were of extraordinary size, while the rest of his person seemed hastily constructed and loose-pointed in the extreme.
He was attired in wide-legged plaid pantaloons, too short at the waist and feet by half a foot; a white vest and white shirt, with wide cuffs and collar, a swallow-tailed coat cut tight at the waist and a white silk hat somewhat the worse for bad usage.
In his hand be carried a bag containing an instrument shaped very much like a banjo the young lady earned a small hand sachel.
On leaving the stage-coach, the strangely-contrasted pair paused a moment as if in doubt which way to go, and the young lady turned to one of the low-browed, villainous-looking pilgrims lounging on a bench before the tavern.
"Can you tell me, sir, how long before the stage will leave for Helena?" she asked, in a pleasant voice.
"No, mum, I reckon not," the addressed party said, "'ca'se how I don't kno'. Thar comes Hank Shakespeare, the poet, however-mebbe he ken put ye onter what yer wanter know."
And he indicated a tall, raw-boned individual who was approaching-a man who looked as though he might be the possessor of a great deal of brute strength and dogged courage, especially the latter, for he was swarthy and ugly of countenance, wearing a stubble of beard and long matted hair, while his brows were shaggy and his eyes evil and bloodshot.
He was attired in stogy boots, dirty patched overalls and overshirt a battered, shapeless "plug" hat, minus the rim, while in a belt about his waist he wore four large-sized revolvers and a bowie.
Anything but a poet, looked the big bullwhacker, and the young lady was discussing, no doubt, this when he came up, and paused to take a survey of her the coon.
"Hello! a nigger and a gal, hey! Waal,
"Let's all shout an' rejoice!
We heer a female's voice."
How'dy do, mum? Goin' ter settle here? We're just needin' a woman, in this hyar camp, 'ca'se how, ye see, when ther b'yees wanter go courtin' they've got ter court one another."
"No. I am not going to settle here," the young woman replied, quite promptly." I wish to find out what time the stage leaves for Helena!"
"Hell-ener! Why, Bless ye, mum, ther next stage won't go fer a week, I allow, 'ca'se how she started six hours ago. No stage 'fore next Wednesday, sure."
An exclamation of disappointment escaped the young lady.
"Oh! That is too bad! I wouldn't have missed reaching Helena for a good deal. Is there no way I can overtake the stage, sir?"
"Reckon not, miss, onless ye hoof et, an' I opine ye wouldn't ketch et, then. Ef yer feet war as large as ther nigger's I reckon ye might do it for
E'en Dexter could not compete
Wi' thet fragrant coon's feet '-
and stand any show o' winnin' ther heat.
No, mum, I allow yer best holt is ter stop right hyar in Death Notch, till next stage."
"I cannot afford to-it seems I must reach Helena one way or another. Cannot we hire saddle-horses-or purchase them, even-in order that we may overtake the stage?"
"Nary a boss. Ther only thing wi' four legs, 'cept Piper's team, is a pair o' oxen."
At this juncture the thirsty Piper appeared upon the scene, wiping his mouth from a recent lubrication in the shape of a bootleg.
"Oh! sir, cannot I prevail upon you to take us on until we overtake the Helena stage?" the girl said, turning to him, appealingly. "We have an engagement to fulfill, and must be in Helena by Saturday night, or throw it up!"
"Sorry, mum, but my route don't go no further than heer, an' I can't accommodate ye!" the worthy Piper piped, taking a chew of tobacco.
"But I will pay you for it-I'll give you dollars, if you will put us on board the Helena stage."
"Couldn't tech me wi' a hundred