Beadle's Half-Dime Library No. 109 — page 3: what you’re looking at

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

ee Son ——- a. Te _- ee ee ee _---— + ‘Well, yes—that is, around this new carbon- ate region,” the sportsman replied, writing his name. ‘‘Have been roaming about up north, principally, for some time past, you see,” “Struck et rich, eh?’ “Oh! no. Never made much at prospect- ing.” es culatin’, eh?” ‘Yes, sometimes.” ** Goin’ to invest around here?” ‘* Doubtless, it I strike a lead.” Then the young man lit a cigar, and saunter- ed away. Captain Sally brushed by Nance with a nudge, ‘‘That’s our game, you old porkypine. Now kee’t you keep yer optics glued onter him, while { go and sharpen up my carvin’-knife. T don’t want no dull tools, ter-night,” he said, in a low tone. A more private lounging-room was attached to the bar-room, and Carroll Holly sauntered into it, to escape the hubbub. A young woman was sitting by a table writ- ing, while sbe smoked a cigarette. One glance it took to tell that she was not handsome. Her form was large and bony, her face coarse in its features, and freckled. Her hair was frowsy, her eyes dull and sullen in their expression; her hands large as a man’s. The only prepossessing part of her appearance, was the richness of the dress and jewels she wore, She looked up so sourly as Carroll entered, that he would have turned back, had not the ex- pression upon her face softened somewhat, when she saw that it was not the one she had been expectiag. , ‘‘ Excuse me,” she said, half rising, with a courtesy. ‘‘I tho’t ’twas the oldman. Come in.” “Wot if I amintruding. I took this to bea lounging room.” ““So itis. Ye won’t disturb me. Young Holly entered. He knew not what else to do under the cir- cumstances. The girl’s tones were more imperative than {nviting, and he was puzzled. “Take a cheer,” she said, pointing to a seat on the opposite side of the table. ‘‘: reckon you're the very galoot I want to see.” | “1?” Carroll said, coolly, but yet in great arprise, “Yes, you. Strikes me you're the very anes: Your handle’s California Charlie, alias Bue hot Bill, alias Carroll Holly!” She spoke positively, rather than interroga- ¥velv, and Carroll was nonplused, “Who told you?” he demanded, coolly, ‘Oh! as to that 1 was in thecity of Mexico, threo years ago, when you came there, an¢ licked a dozen greasers, single-handed, in front of a gambling den.” ‘““Tndeed? What is your name?” ‘California Kate fer short, though I reckon I’m writ down Kate Savage in scripter. I be- long ter ther old man an’ woman, yonder;” and she nodded toward the bar-room. “Oh!” Carroll said. That was all. “T heerd you inquired fer, to-night, an’ reckied you, when you come in,” Kate pursued, drumming on the table with her bejeweled fingers. “Heard me inquired for?” Carroll exclaimed, in astonishment. ‘‘ By whom, pray?’ “Oh! by a prominent chap. "Tain’t none o’ my business, ye see, an’ ef it hadn’t been as how you war a good-lookin’ galoot, an’ I knew you war game, I sbouldn’t ’a’ sed a word. But ‘twixt you an’ me, I’d advise ye ter luk out fer rerself, or else go rent a lot in a cemetery up eer, in case of emergency.” Carroll stared. “You don’t mean that my life is in danger, oung lady ?’ A aal; now, I ain’t a-goin’ ter tell yer no more!” Kate said, decisively, *‘ but from all thet I heerd, I shed opine thar war prospect o’ a funeral, Leastways, ef I war you, ’twixt me an’ you, I shouldn’t go to bed without a good ized bull-dog under my piller!” _ And with this comforting advice the belle of the Roost bid the young American adiea and Jeft the rocm. Come in.” a i= CHAPTER II. THE ASSASSIN’S ATTACK. ; To say that Carroll Holly was surprised would be drawing 5 mild. Cool, 5 eg ol tomed to surprises, he usually passe em by without opastnent - but this was one he had not ted on. tty total stranger was he in the little mountain ar - Deadwood Dick as Detective. for him a warm reception. He was aware that he had a few enemies in the world—no man can carry his own without having them—but he was at fault when he cast about for one on whom to lay the suspicion. ‘The girl’s got a heart, after all,” he mut- tered, ‘‘though nature didn’t do a pleasing job on her exterior. I remember now of havin heard of her—a sword-player, or something o the kind. So the host and hostess are her parents, eh? A hard-looking pair at best.” After smoking a cigar in reflection, he applied for directions to his room, and was shown to a small one over the bar-room, after which his guide, who was Captain Sally in per- son, took his departure, Besides being small, the room was illy lighted by a dirty window. The floor was beret the only furniture was a bed and bedstead, a chair, and a rude bench containing a tin wash-dish and a bucket of water. A door opened out of each end of the room, besides the one through which \he had entered, but both were locked and he could only surmise that they opened into adjoining rooms, ‘Rather a fair chance to get nt me, anyhow if the girl’s hints have any foundation of truth,’ Caproll rauned: viewing his surroundings. ‘ vu go to bed, anyhow, and rest, for I’m as tired as a pack-horse. It will be strange if I cannot sleep with one eye open.” Throwing himself upon the bed, he lay for several hours, and listened to the noises below, and out in the street of the restless town. - But finally sleep would no longer put off her claims, and foreclosed her mortgage over the weary traveler. The hours passed by. The candle in the holder burnt down to a spluttering taper. After midnight the noises ceased, and the town was rapes in the quiet of atomb. Not so much as a yell, or the rumble of a wheel was heard, Then, after a pause, one of the three doors to Carroll Holly’s room opened, and two dusky figures stole softly into the room—stealthily, as if upon a mission of crime. It will he scarcely necessary to mention that they were the Savages, Sally and Nance. They bad come to do the terrible deed that the Honorable Clan- cy Adair had instigated. Captain Sally was armed with a long, glittering knife, and led in advance. ‘Sh pick up yer durned elephant’s feet, an’ don’t make so much noise!” he growled, pausing near the door, ‘‘ Thar’s our fatted calf, an’ ef ye ain’t purtickler about gittin’ hurt, ye hedn’t better waken him. He’s as spry as a cat, and as limber as an eel, I bet.” ‘*Pshaw! you’re an old fool!” Nance said, in evident huge disgust. ‘‘Go ahead and knife him, if ye’re goin’ to, and don’t make so many bones of it,” ‘*Durn ye! shet up yer yawp. Course [ll ‘pin’ him, but I want ter take my own time, t ain’t one o’ ther most pleasant jobs ter give a young an’ ’an’some feller, like he, an injection 0’ cold steel, when he’s a-sleepin’ like a babby.” ‘Bah! you’re a wuss old coward ’an ary prairie dorg'!” Nance roared, under her breath. ‘* Give me thet knife, ef ye’re so sensitive. * Vl carve him, like cuttin’ beefstake. Go ahead, you fool. This ain’t yer maiden effort,” ‘‘ No; thet’s a fac’, et ain’t. Thar war John Lisbon, and General McMahon—TI sent ’em off, fust class, an’ ye see’d me, Nance—ye see’d me do et.” “Yes, ye did; that’s a fact. But the blowin’ up of thet job ain’t a-goin’ ter tech this present one. If ye’re goin’ to make a ‘stiff’ out o’ thet galoot, sail in, an Tl be close behind ter help search him!” Nance said, grimly. ‘No ye won’t. VU sarch *im, myself. Ef ye want ter sheer in the sp’iles, you’ve got ter take ther knife an’ do the job!” tive worthy host of the ‘*‘ Roost” said, with a chuckle. Nance shrunk back a bit at this, her eyes dilating. ‘*Go ahead!” she gasped. “ You knife him!” Captain Sally wiped the blade of his knife across his bootleg, and smiled in a horribly sig- nificant way; then, with the knife clutched firm- ly ia his right hand, stole softly toward the bed Whereon the young man was lying in sound repose. There was a horrible expression upon the ruf- fian’s face—an expression of desire mingled with doubt and fear. His eyes pase eg terribly; his breath came in short, quick gasps; he trembled in every limb like an aspen. Nearer and nearer he approached the bed, the knife now uplifted in his hand, ready for the , city, and yet somebody had evidently bespoken a ——, _ — blow; the eyes of Nance were fixed upon him; another moment, and the life of Carroll Holly would go out beneath the assassia’s blow! But it was destined that the blow should not be struck. For just then there came a shrill whisj.¢ through the room, that caused the guilty cous: « to start, and gaze around in alarm. To behold, standing on the threshold of the room, no less a personage than their own child, California Kate—she, and none other, with « coe of revolvers in her hands, leveled. full ai em! “Stop!” she said, in a shrill whisper embody- ing stern, command, ‘Stop, curse you, or Fit put a bullet through ye both!” “The devil!” Captain Savage growled, “You, Kate!” Nance gasped, paling, “ Leave the room, you young vixen!” ‘You shut up!” Kate advised, an a ‘Give me five cents’ worth o’ yer jaw, an’ I plug ye as quick as I would a buzzard, Ye'’ru « urty air, ain’t ye? I’m proud o’ ye, lam, you et. Goin’ ter knife a poor pilgrim jest fer « paltry sum 0’ money! Shame on ye!” ‘See here, gal, yer on ther wrong tack, on tirely,” Captain Sally explained, in a low tone, ‘We're jest practicing fer ther stage, ye see~- me an Nance, au’ this be one o’ our parts o’ thee play. Now ve keep still, an’ we'll finish wi’oug wakin’ the chap. in’t it so, Nancy, dear?" **On course it is!” Nance seuecited. ‘‘On course it ain’t!” California Kate said, coolly. ‘*On course ye can’t pull wool over my eyes fer a cent, an ef ye don’t slide out of bere in waltz-clog time, Pll know why, Dye want me ter wake up thet feller, an’ tell him ye was jest a-goin’ ter knife him? Ef ye don’t, git % and git, now—d’ye heer.” “Darn ye, gal, il pound daylight outo! » when [ git my claws on ye!” Nance growled fiercely, her fingers opening and shutting, am her eyes blazing luridly, “Tl Varn ye te snoop inter ther bizness 0’ yer respectable ageé sires—I will, Come along, old man, The gui means et!” ‘You bet yer bonus I do!” Kate cried, threat- eningly, following them to the door, “Tm | goin’ ter see this galoot through safe till mornin’, an’ef | ketch ye up-stairs ag’in, ye’ll go dow on a rush,” Grumbling and cursing as they full well knew how, the evil pair took their way down-stairs, while California Kate went and stood by the bedside of Carroll Holly, and gazed down int« his face, the usually sullen expression in her eyes softening. ‘*He’s a reg’lar beauty, en’ the old man’s been his Jast sickness, cf I hedn’t evmin ant kicked ag’in’ it,” she muttered. ‘* Wonder #f he’d thank me, ef I'd tell him thet I'd rescued. him ? She sat musing over this problem for some | time thereafter, with her chair drawn close te the bedside, while Carroll slept sweetly. Shs was interested in him, which was something ec traordinary, for they who knew Californis Kate knew that she had been a bitter man-hater from childhood up, inasmuch as it seemed te give her pleasure to slay them in gladiatorial contests. No man ever approached her with love—some said because she was 80 homely, but the real cause was because they were afraid af getting salivated. Few indeed were there why cared to risk speaking to her. Carroll awoke by and by, and seeing her sit- ting by the bed, was surprised, as was evideuts from the startled expression that CAMO acros his face, “Oh! it’s you, eh?” he said, when he caught a glimpse of her face, “TI didn’t know—” ‘Yes, et’s me!” Kate assented, rising, “ nxt’ sence ye’re awake, I’llgo. Only, ef ye want ter live till morning, ye’d better not go to sleep. ag’in.” at Why not?’ ‘‘ Because ye hedn’t. Ef I hadnt been scentin® danger, and cum, jest as T did, you'd have hes knifed clean through an’ through, T cum along wi’ a full hand, and dispersed ’em.” “You did?” Carroll exclaimed, sitting audé-. denly up on the bed, ‘Then, le’ me you my earnest thanks. Who were there would-be-assassins?” ‘I reckon you'll guess, wi’out askin’ any . more questions, when I advise ye ter seek nw other and healthier climate than Captain Sally’, * Roost!” , Carroll whistled a single shrill note, “T see,” he muttered. “ Your father ant mother are turned against me?” “Exactly.” *“Why are they thus? What did T ever do te cause their enmity?” (Ele) 'GOMIGDOCKS