Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 1032 — page 3: what you’re looking at

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

— « <Pyent Neither of the Twin Toughs saw the crazy man till they felt his grasp upon their shoulders. ‘* Ho, ho!” he laughed, in a heavy, musical voice, as he held the astonished ruffians at arm’s length and glared at them. ‘‘Two devil’s whelps making merry, eb? Well, you will both have a chance to dance on red-hot coals when you get your just deserts,” The darky had ceased playing at this inter- ruotion, but the strange man turned toward him, commanding: “(to on agiin and we will show you how to dance. Rattle it off lively now !” ‘reat ginger!’ exclaimed Pete. ‘If do Ole Boy hisself hain’t gwine ter shake a hoof! Here oes,” 5 Once more he struck into a lively tune, and immediately Old Rattlebrain began to dance, at the sane time crying out to the two toughs: ‘* Break it down, you offspringsof sin! Dance for all you are worth, if you do not want to start ona quick trip. to your master in less than a minute! The one who holds out the longest is the best man.” Tbe ruffians did nét dare disobey, even though they called themselves the *‘ chiefs” of Hot Hole. They knew and feared the crazy man whose clutch they had felt, There was something in Oj1 Rattlebrain’s fiery eyes that made the bold- est of them all quail. So Whisky Jim and Nevada Mike began danc- ing again, spurred on by the savage command of the strangeman, Again and again he ordered them to quicken their pace, while he bandled bis feet asif filled witha furious frenzy. At tie first glanee, the spectacle was extremely rilicu- lous, but, for all of that, there was something about it that gave the spectators a feeling of awe and dread. The face and blazing eyes of the in- sane man were suflicient to cause the blood to chill in the veins of him who looked on them, The crowd did not laugh, though some uttered suppressed oaths and shrunk further back from the dancing trio. It was impossible to tell what wild freak might seize upon the deranged man next, and many considered it discreet to be well beyond the clutch of his terribly powerfal hand, , The darky musician closed his eyes as he doubled over the instrument, making it plain he did not care to look on Old Rattlebrain’s face, ‘Wat d’yer think o’ thet, boy?’ whispered Round-up Rubs, in Fred Walker’s ear, ‘‘ J am beginuinz to believe I have fallen into a nest of cracked-brains,” was the almost con- temptuous reply. ‘‘I bave heard considerable of the‘ wild and woolly West,’ but I never dream- ed of such things as these, But that old man’s eyes give me the shakes, He ought to,be in some lunatie asylum,” ‘* He is harmless ez er kitten ef ye lets him hev hisown way. But he’s er holy horror ef ye rubs his fur ag’in’ ther grain, Long Knife Ike tried ter jump him with er sticker, but Ole Rattle- brain caught his wrist, Then he jest caught holt o’ Ike in some way an’ broke his neck like it wuz er pipe-stem, Ike wuz burried at ther town’s ex- pense, an’ Ole Rattlebrain wuz offered a vote 0’ thanks fer savin’ Jedge Lynch er job,” ‘‘ But who is this Old Rattlebrain ¢”? ‘‘ Nobody knows, boy. He don’t know his- self. It is a mystery whar he lives, an’ how he lives. Nobody ever:saw him kerry ary wea- on ’sides them natur’® guv him, He comes inter Hot Hole w’en be likes, an’ nobody’s dared foller him w’en he leaves.” ** What made him insane?” ‘* Now ye’re axin’ another bad ’an, [ve heerd say as how he sometimes tells thet he wuz thumped on ther bead by a galoot as robbed him oO’ his pile, but E dunno how true ther yarn is, ‘* Hello, thar’s Lightfinger Flip now!” The cowboy pointed towar:é « tall, dark-faced man of middle age, who waa standing at one side of the circle, smoking a cigar as be watched the singular spectacle of the three men dancing ‘to the music of the baunj», He was quite as tastily dressed as @ city swell, and be had the air of a man of tbe world; but something in bis appearance instantly prejudiced the young ten- derfoot against him, Within the circle the wild dance continued till h of the Twin Toughs were exhausted; but when they would have stopped, Old Rattle- tie caught them by the collars and fairly yelled: * Dance, you devils, dance !” But at length they were so far used up that they could no longer keep in motion, stooping suddenly, the maniac caught them botb by the belts and lifted them off their feet, swinging them at arm’s length above bis bare head. It was a feat that caused the witnesses to gasp with astonishment and dismay, while Dancing, were ye? | hen, . gurgling cries of fear came from the lips of the ruffi ns thus held aloft, | “Great Scott!” exclaimed Fred Walker. ‘*That man must have the strength of a Sam- son! He would be a match for a dozen com- mon men!” ** Ho, ho, ho!” laughed Old Rattlebrain, as he continued to keep time tothe music, ‘‘'t’bis is ther way Satau will handle ye when be gets his claws on yel” A low exclamation broke from Round-up | Rube’s lips, and once more tbe bow-legged cow- boy drew his revolver, bis eyes fastened on the gambler, Lightfinger Flip. The dark-faced card-sharp had also reached for a weapon, and seemed on the point of taking a snap-shot at the Hercules maniac. But, suddealy, Old Rattlebrain lowered the Twin Toughs to the floor unharmed, Then he pressed his broad hands to his bead, and the fire seamed to die out of hiseyes, He gazed around as if dazed, his lips moved, and from the midst of his beard came a few broken words: ‘Yes, Nancy—l’m coming—home, I have the—gold—the—gold. I’m—coming—home,” Cowboy Chris, the Man of Caliber. His hands fell at his sides and he stared won- | deringly at the crowd for several moments, then he turned and strode from tbe room, almost brushing against Lightfinger Flip as he left the circle. Nobody noticed that the gambler stared strangely at the madman, the color having left . his dusky face till 1t was of an ashen hue. Barely had Old Rattlebrain passed through the open doorway when a person of.quite a dif- ferent appearance entered the saloon. ‘* Holy smoke!” ** Looker thar!” * W'at is it?” ‘6 4 dood, by thunder !” The new-comer was a stranger in camp, and he migbt have hesitated abont wandering into the Whoa Emma if he bad known what a recep- tion he would receive, He was dressed In a plaid suit, the figure boeing the very ‘ loudest.” thing imaginable. There were patent-leathers on his feet; he wore a white shirt and collar— a portion of the former being concealed by a flaming red necktie. Upon his head was seta silk hat of the latest style, and in his hand he carried a gold-headed cane, A step within the doorway the stranger paused to adjust an eyeglass and stare critically at the throng, after which he ventured to ask: ‘¢Hfam Hi in the saloon, you knaw?” A moment of silence followed the query; then a perfect roar broke from the crowd and a general rush was made for the stranger. In a moment be was surrounded by the laughing throng, everything else being forgotten as they examined the startled ** dood,” ‘* Wat kin it be?” asked one fellow as he walk- ed around the new-comer and surveyed him from head to foot, ‘Looker thet hat!” cried another, half-squat- ting with his hands on his knees, as he gazed up at the strangers’s beautifully polished tile. ‘* Keerful! Don't putt yer han’s on it, fer it may break!” ‘*Velly much ’Mellican lulu!” commented a Chinaman. ‘* Begorra!” shouted an Irishman, ‘“ Oi thort T c’u’d tell a jackass whin Oi saw it, but this wan hasn’t any ears t’ spake av at all, at all!” ‘“Tawsee me!” grinned the darky musician, who bad been swept along with the crowd, ‘If I jes’ had dem togs, 1 knows a yaller gal dat I'd break de heart ob fo’ suab,” The stranger drew himself up with great dig- nity and gazad scornfully at the crowd, ‘Hi would ’ave you hunderstand,” he said, sharply, *“tvat Hi ham en Henglish gentleman, Hi ham a sport, ye knaw. My name is’Andy ’arry, hand Hi, bam from Lunnon,” CHAPTER III, COWBOY CHRIS CHIPS IN, A shout of delight came from the throng, ‘Oh, git haway ’ere!” cried one fellow, imi- tating the Englishman’s manner of expression. ‘This is an Henglish sport, ye knaw,” ‘* By golly!” laughed the ten G ** Dat feller wears single-barreled spectacles! I jes’ reckum he mus’ be bline in his off eye.” ‘‘He go dlead bloke on togs,” observed the Chinaman. ‘ No havee clash to gitee bloth glasses, gitee one.” ‘‘@lorrng, ye haythen!” cried the [rishman, ‘¢ He ounly wears wan glass t’ privent him from seeing coyble whin he looks at sick craythers as yez,” Having recovered their breath in a measure, the Twin Toughs pushed their way to the center 3 ee ee eee eo ee eS of the circle and confronted the dandy English- pan, ‘* Waal, I want ter go ter Hel-ena!” growled Whisky Jim, after surveyiug the stranger from head to foot, ‘* Say,” called Nevada Mike, crouching a bit and peering up into the Englishman’s face, ** duz yer mammy know yer out, sonny?” ’Andy ’Arry fell back astep in evident con- sternation, lifting bis cane and shaking it warn- ingly, as he cried: “I Ave a care, you bloomin’ bloody blokes! Hiham not a man to take hany hof your chaff!” This caused another shont of merriment. “Holy Ham, son of Noah!” cried Nevada Mike. ‘* These be degenerous days w’en er crit- ter like this kin roam about without bein’ killed!” ‘* Mike,” said Jim, soberly, “‘ I ’lowit’s our ‘lireous duty ter shoot this thing through the head,” ‘*I reckon you're right, pard, It’s liable ter skeer some pore cuss inter a fit ef we let it run loose any longer,” Round-up Rube and Fred Walker were in the outskirts of the crowd, but they plainly heard the words of the two toughs, The young Hast- erner became somewhat excite’, ‘*They are going to kill that unlucky devil!” he exclaimed, ‘* Waal, I guess not!” laughed the bow-legged cowboy. ‘*Thet’s all bluff. They are only skeerin’ him, Ther next thing, they’!l be strikin’ him fera drink, Jest keep yer shirt on, boy, you'll git ust ter ther ways o’ ther kentry atter a while,” But the Twins were not destined to get a drink out of the Englishman, The gambler, Lightfinger Flip, pushed his way to the center of the throng, the men falling back for him to pass, ‘* Here, here, boys!” he said, sternly, looking at his two tools. ‘ Don’t you know a gentleman when you see one? Get out!” Jim and Mike gave bim looks of surprise, but immediately fell back, ‘* Now,” said Round-up-Rube, nudging Fred Walker with his elbow, ‘‘ thet cuss is up ter some kind o’ er game. He is more danger’us fer ther greeny then ther Twins, I tell you he’s bad med’cine!” ‘*l am happy to meet you, sir,” said the card- sharp, lifting his hat and offering his hand. ‘** Aw!” was’Andy ’Arry’s response, as he took the proffered hand, ‘*The same to yourself, b’ Jove! Hi bam bastounded to meet a gentle- man in this hinfernal country, yeknaw! Dooced hagreeable thing, Hi hassure you!” ‘Ob, you mustn’t mind these fellows,” and Flip nodded toward the crowd, ‘They do not mean uny harm. This is one of the most harm- less and peaceable towns you ever struck, ‘*Well, Hi bam glad to’ear bit, for Hi ’ad begun to think differently.” ‘*T take it you are from across the pond? You have the air of a London gentleman,” ' At this a flatrered smile spread over ’Arry’s face, aud be quite seemed to forget he had made tbe statement that he was from ‘* Lunnon,” ‘* Hit is plain you ’ave been haround the world . some,” he said, ‘‘for you ’ave it hit right the Lunnon is me ’ome,” first go. Traveling for your health or for * Ah! pleasure?” , ‘* For ’ealth, pleasure hand business,” ‘That mekes an excellent combination, for most poor devils on this side have to travel for their health when they travel at all. But, it is very warm. Would you honor me by taking something with me?” ‘‘That is what Hi came in’erefor, hand Hi ham glad to’ave found an hagreeable companion to drink with.” The gambler locked arms with the English dandy, and the two passed out of the thickest of the crowd, and made their way toward an empty table, ‘*Fiip bes ‘got his claws on thet pore sucker, an’ hell skin bim clean afore be takes ’em cff,” said Round-up Rube to bis new-found tenderfvot friend, ‘* Ther pore foo! hes tumbled right mter ther soup fu’st flop.” The gambler ordered liquor and glasses, and half an hour later the man from eee = and the Southwest sport were engaged in a game of draw poke, The crowd gathered around to witness the fun, ‘‘ Hi never saw such people to play poker as you bloomin’ Hamericans hare!” declared Ripe f Hi do not know much babout the game, but Hi ’ave not been hable to get hinto bany other kind hof a game since Hi came hover. Asa result, b’Jove! Hi ’ave’ad to cable me Lunnon bankers for money twice, Hjf Hi could honly strike a