Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 1064 — page 12: what you’re looking at

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

_ hold it in par 12 Dandy Dick Decoyed. burro, at the same time jogging it violently, and down it went all in a heap. The crowd laughed at this, but the old hag stepped solemnly up and out of the seeming ruins, and made a bow in the direction of the piazza. She looked even older than she had seemed at first. Her back was much bent, her form trem- bled, and her voice, when she spoke, was like the squeak of a cracked pipe in a disabled organ, ‘*Geutlemen,” she said, “‘I am the famed Madam Sibyl, the greatest fortune-teller the world ever knew, and even yet the world does not half know me. I crave your permission to pitch my tent here in your little camp for awhile, and beg to receive a little patronage from you. for every dollar you give me, you will get ten in return in valuable information—ay, in some cases a hundredfold,” Jackson Dunbarge was approaching from the post-office, and the answer was left for him to make, ‘You may do that, certainly,” he gave per- mission. ‘'* Put up your tent and make yourself at home, / Hey, boys?” ‘* That’s ther idee!” was the ery. ‘* Anything ter break ther mernoterny of ther place. Don’t reckon thar’s a galoot among us but will have his fortun’ took.” ‘Thank you, gentlemen, thank you!” the old hag piped. ‘‘ Now if I can engage two men to help me,I shall soon be at home with you. It does mot take long for Madam Sibyl to set-up her mansion.” This was followed by a cackle of a laugh, and the crowd set Madam Sibyl down as about the worst-looking specimen of her sex they had ever n. Hard-pan Smith and another man offered their services, and a site was selected near the bridge for the tent. There the burro was led, and under the old woman’s directions the tent was up before it was quite dark. When everything was arranged, it looked — a Gypsy camp on the smallest possible scale, There would have been a run of business im- mediately, bad not the old woman refused to ‘tell fortunes that night, She was tired, she ex- plained, and must rest. On the morrow she would attend to all who might call. As soonas it was quite dark, a dim Jight ‘was seen in her tent, the hanging door of which she had closed, and those who ventured to look in declared that the old hag was mixing ber spells in human skulls overa spirit lamp that had the shape of a coffin. In the mean time the English lord and his man had established themselves in their room, and had not been further troubled. Bad-man Ben was at the Come Over Here where it was likely that he would find fight if he was looking for anything in that line, and he seemed to be, The mystery of the coffin was a mystery still, the man sent out by Dunbarge not having re- turned, In fact, he could not be looked for yet. He had not reached his destination—certainly not any more than that, The disappearance of the Mexican lady was still the wonder of the day, What had become of her was more than any one could guess, un- less it was that the outlaws had succeeded in carrying her off. Dunbarge had sent out sev- cn scouts to see if they could discover any- ng. The woman of the coffin bad by this time re- covered much of her strength, but had not yet been allowed to venture out of herroom, She had not been able to throw any more light upon the mystery that surrounded her, McDonald, miserable indeed, had not seen her, and seemed to have little desire to do so, If she was the wife of his enemy she could be nothing to bim. Time yrieniees and the business of the evening was well under way when a new arrival entered ‘tbe Come Over Here, lt was a timely arrival, too, and a fortunate one, Forbape, for Mr, Bad-man Ben, He had been blowing bis horn so loudly that at last one good citizen bad offered to ** do him up,” They were about'getting warmed up to it, and would probably have been at it, tooth and nail, ‘had not the entrance of a stranger taken their thoughts away from their foolish and unreason- able quarrel, so saving perhaps the threatened de- molition of the saloon at the hands of Bad-man. The stranger was a dapper personage, in male attire, but it was readily enough guessed that it was a woman, Indeed, her attire was not in- tended to hide that fact, for she wore her lux- uriant hair hanging loose, with only a ribbon to restraint, In one band she carrie] a square, covered case—a case of considerable size, but not very heavy. A neat worsted cap sat upon her head with easy and graceful effect, but otherwise her attire was of plain material, of the male pat- tern, She advanced to the bar at once, and de- positing her box on it, addressed Rusty Leary. Every one in the room was eager to learn who and what she was, CHAPTER XVII. A REMARKABLE SHAVE ORDERED, ‘‘T TAKE if you are the proprietor of this place, sir,” the woman spoke, ‘* That’s about what I be, miss,” Rusty Leary responded, ‘‘ What kin I do fer you? Speak her right out, miss,” ‘*Thank you. Well then, first of all, I want to inquire whether you have a good barber in thiscamp? This may seem a strange question, but Pil explain.” ‘* A good barber? Bless yer heart, miss, we haven’t any barber er tall, good norbad, Every galoot is his own barber, them as ain’t tuo lazy ter shave, an’ 1 opine them is in ther majority.” **T am glad to hear that. I am a barber, and have my kit along with me in this box, [ am called ‘ Frank, the barber.’ Now if you will allow me to open my shop in your saloon, sir, I think it will be a good thing for both of us, What do you say to my proposition?” ‘* Why, yer is welcome, in course. A woman barber. aal, by thunder, boyees, that is some- thin’ new, ain’t it? Pll bet my socks that thar won’t be a onshaved man in ther hull camp two days from now. Miss, I'll bet yer bas struck a payin’streak, an’ I hope you'll work it fer all it’s worth. Set up yer mill jest as soon as yer want to, an’ show us what yer kin do.” ‘Thank you, sir. I will begin at once, in a temporary wey. Tomorrow I can arrange things to suit me in some out-of-the-way corner, and then Pll get along finely. May I have the use of a chair and table?” ‘Yas, belp yerself to what yer wants, An’ if yer wants any help, any of ther galoots hyar will lend ye a band,” The woman made her selections among the tables and chairs, and men placed the articles for her. Putting her box on the table then, she opened it and took out an assortment of razors, cup, comb, brush, ete., etc., and prepared for busi- ness, She was the center of all attention, and Bad- man Ben and his belligerent opposer forgot all about their little difficulty, and were among the quiet lookers-on to see the woman make ready. Towels and paper came out of the box, then a dainty white cap and apron for herself, and when she had laid off her worsted cap and coat and had donned these, not a man there but wanted to be the first to place himself under her hands for a shave. Finally she prepared her lather in the cup, and announced that she was ready to serve her friends to the best of her ability. ‘* Yas, an’ I’m ready ter be sarved, too,” cried Bad-man Ben, ‘‘I wants ther first treat at this hyar thing, boyees, an’ I reckon none of ye is goin’ ter kick, If thar is, do yer kickin’ right hyar an’ now.” ‘* Anybody first, it make no difference,” spoke the woman, Bad-man was glaring around, to see if any- body was going to challenge him for the honor, and speedily he discovered that somebody was. The man who had been on the point of going for him as the barber entered, now pushed his way to the fore, and as he came he was pulling up his sleeves and blustering away at a great rate, ** Hyar’s what’s goin’ ter kick, an’ kick hard, you bet!” be cried. ‘‘ Nodurn duffer of a stran- ger is goin’ ter come hyar an’ take ther cream off’n our puddin’, not if weknows it! Jam ther galoot what’s goin’ ter have ther fu’st whack at this hyar new game, pilgrim.” ‘* Be, be ye?” sneered Bad-man. ‘‘T!l show er about that, Jest gaze at me, an’ tell me if look like a galoot what takes water—” ‘*Nary a drop o’ water do you take, by ther looks of yer\” some one sung out, ‘** Bet yer life [ don’t!” cried Bad-man, ‘‘I takes no water, nuther by fact nor by figger. An’ I takes none this time. [’m goin’ ter be shaved fu’st, my p’izen-lookin’ coyote, an’ don’t yer try ter hender me, nuther.” He made a step toward the chair, but the other fellow stepped in his way and tried to get in bimself, Bad-man laid hold upon him instantly, by the collar and belt, and witb a sudden swing, sent 7 “| ' ive yw t¥ ie i ig las 4] - t y ae *, - ~ — ok p . ’ _ ; "hy ty | | , * : .o j . : ("4 ne .*. A f - y = | | \ Laer * ‘9 A g ri b * J - ; + of odd rns om fed . oF XS é ; fe > *, ~ af him spinning away toward the bar, where he © brought up with a crash, When he recovered he made a reach for @ weapon, but Bad-man had him covered already, with a brace of formidable revolvers, and as he squinted along them at the enraged citizen, he cried: “* Hol’ on, thar! Don’t yer go fer to do that, or it will be death to yer so suddent that yer won’t know but ther lightnin’s hit ye. You jest put them ’ar tools away, or you will hear somethin’ drop, No foolin’, now, you bet.” The other man bad the worst of it for the present, and his band appeared in sight without any weapon in it. ‘*That’s ther stuff,” Bad-man remarked, ** Now don’t ye try any more fanny biz, or you'll take a dose o’ pills afore ye knows yer needs ’em, Jl keep me pops in hand while yer ther daisy barber are fingerin’ me face fer me,” The chair had been placed with its back toa corner, as it happened, and when Bad-man took his seat he was facing the crowd, His revolvers were in hand, and bis hands were to the front, resting upon his legs, and so long as he could keep command of the situation with his eyes he held the best hand, His opponent grumbled away, but seeing that Bad-man had the chair, did not further contest his right to it, having had a taste of his power of muscle and perhaps considering enough as good as a feast, of that particular sort of thing. Frank took up a razor and began to whet it deftly upon a strop, asking as she did so; ** A clean shave, sir?” “That's a p’int that I want ter tell yer about,” answered Bad-man, ** Very well, sir, give your directions, and Ill do whatever you say. Shall I block out a pair of siders for you?” Bad-man Ben’s face was covered with a brist- ly stubble of some weeks’ growth, and it looked as though the little barber’s first job was going to be a tough one. ‘* No, no siders fer me, if you please,” he made reply. ‘‘ Vll tell ye what I want ter aim at, It are a new thiug ter be shaved by a purty wo- man, an’ Ill be darnif I don’t want ter prolong it as long as I kin.” ** Going to give me a hard job, eh? It looks as though I shall have that, anyhow.” ‘*No; nor not ’zackly that either. Il tell yer what I’m gettin’ at: I am going ter have it done a leetle at a time, so’s I kin come every day in ther week, See what I’m at?” ‘ Opa I see,” pausing with lather brush in and. ‘Waal, this time you kin begin by takin’ out a spot on my chip, a spot about as big as a dol- lar, Don’t cut nowhar else, but jest right thar. Then ter-morrer I'll let ye do ther same on one cheek. Next day ther sameon t’other, an’ so on, By ther time ye git around to my chin again, it will be in need of another shave.” The absurd proposition was greeted with laughter by everybody, ‘*And so you will go around like a spotted what-is-it, just for the sake of a shave in one lit- tle spot every day, eh?’ commented the barber. ‘*That’s my business—not meanin’ ter be im- rlite to a Jady, It’s not ther shavin’ thatI ceer a durn about, miss, but it’s ter have a good- lookin’ gal like yerself playin’ with me face,” ‘* Yes, it’s your business, that’s so, and Ill fix you out in any way you like. Tl) cut a rail- road clear from one ear to the other, if you say so. It’s your own face, and it would be pretty rough if a man couldn’t have his face decorated to suit his own taste. Lean back, please,” All right; but don’t get in front of me, I want ter keep one eye peeled on that ’ar critter over thar,” “* Ob, be’s not going to interfere with you any further, sir.” With that the woman barber set briskly at work, Bad-man laying back under the protec- tion of bis weapons, and in a little time the job. was done, When be rose from the chair he was greeted with a howl of derision, and his appearance de- served it, There was the spot on his chin, the only clean spot about him, shining like a bald head by moonlight. ‘*Ho, ho, bo! If you ain’t a darling now!” cried Rusty Leary. ‘** Should say he was!” echoed Hard-pan Smith, ‘* A buzzard wouldn’t ’sociate with yer.” ‘‘?’m not askin’ fer yer company,” was the re- tort. ‘* As ther lettle gal said, it ar’ my own face an’ I kin do as 1 please with it. I’m on) sorry I didn’t tell her ter make it smaller, so’s could git shaved oftener.” | No sooner was Bad-man out of the chair and his quarter paid, than anotber customer was in, : «** 2 7, aA ¥ nt J ge _— ~~ - oe ewe) ME te seca — eet ssa gin Be ne ee a ae. Pe