Deadwood Dick's Doom; or, Calamity Jane's Last Adventure

CHAPTER XIII.
TWO SENSATIONS.

SEVERAL days passed, thereafter, without any incident worthy of mention.

Mrs. Morris remained at the Poker House, in Death Notch, anxiously awaiting, from the Unknown, tidings of her lost daughter. Calamity kept her company most of the time, and did much to cheer and comfort her.

Not a glimpse had been caught of Carrol Carner since his departure at the order of the girl sport, and it was hoped that he had cleared out for good.

On the fourth morning after the night of Old Scavenger's death, the town of Death Notch was "billed like a sarcus," as one miner remarked. Posters, hand-printed, were stuck up in every conspicuous place; and, what was more, they were the proclamations of two separate parties, each having a different subject to unfold to the gaping assemblage that swarmed forth to read them.

First and most important to the average citizen, was a poster concerning themselves, which read thus:

"NOTICE.

"To the pale-face dogs who drove Red Hatchet and his tribe from the town of Sequoy which the Government had given him warning is given that unless they fly at one their own pale-face country, their scalps shall hang upon the lodge-pole of

"DANCING PLUME, Chief of the Apaches."

The meaning was plain enough, but the rough men of Death Notch did not take any 'stock' in it.

More then one threat had been thus hurled at them by Red Hatchet, but had not, been executed; what reason had they to believe that this one would be?

The other poster was framed in language more familiar, and ran:

"NOTICE!

"To every man, female an' cherub wi'in ther classic precincts of Death Notch:

"On ther morrow, at sunrise, I, William Henry Shakespeare, shall expose at public auction, from on top of Picter Rock, nigh yer town, ther following property ter with --

"One Purty Piece o' Humanity, o' ther femernine gentler, aged about twenty; good sound teeth; travels purty good jog; sired by a California chap; warrented gentle and good lukin'. Found astray in ther mountings, an' will be sold ter ther highest bidder ter defray expenses of keepin' an' transpertation Dog-goned gud barg'in.

"Purty as a new wax figger;
Jes' like a angel-but leetle bigger;
Sweet as blazes-bet yer life --
Chance fer pilgrims ter git a wife.

"A big attendance is desire.

"WILLIAM H. SHAKESPEARE Auctioneer."

This created more of a sensation than Dancing Plume's proclamation.

Calamity read it, and at once communicated the news to Mrs. Morris.

"Et's your boss chance to git back yer gal!" she said. "The one who bids the most gets her!"

"But, I can do nothing. I have but a hundred dollars with me, and it is more than probable that some ruffian would bid above that sum, to get my poor child in his power," Mrs. Morris answered, in deep distress. "Oh! dear, what can I do?"

"Well, we'll see," Calamity said, meditatively. "There's allus more than one way out of the woods, and we'll work it, somehow. I don't happen to be over-flush with 'bits' myself, or I might add a little to your pile. I'll go out and skirmish, and see what I can find, for we must be prepared to bid smart, to-morrow."

She went down-stairs, and for a wonder found Poker Jack the only inmate of the bar-room.

He was seated tipped back in an easy-chair, engaged in reading, but looked up with a nod.

Pleasant morning, Calamity!" he saluted. "Quite a sensation stirred up again, eh? to break the monotony?"

"So it seems, Jack. I allow I did you a squar' deal, when you were in trouble once, up in Deadwood, didn't I?"

"You bet ye did, Calamity, and I have always remembered it, because I'd been subject to a funeral expense, but for you."

"Well, I was handy to help you and considered you deserved it. And, now, if I was to ask a favor of you, what would you say?"

"I'd grant it, in a minute, old friend. You have but to name it."

"Well, I'll tell you what I want; I want money to bid of Mrs. Morris's daughter to-morrow

Then she went on and explained the circumstances already known to the reader.

Jack listened a few moments, and then scratched his curly head.

"Well, I allow I can do a little toward remedying the difficulty," he announced. "Let the girl go fer what she will, I'll get her. Mrs. Morris can bid as high as her pile goes, and I'll take care of all above it."