Beadle's Half-Dime Library No. 109 — page 4: what you’re looking at

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

4h eee wee ee wm - wee ee - eeee e ——_ ‘Nothing, as 1 know on; but you sce they war hired ter give you a final boost, an’ they’d hev give it to ye, ef I hadn’t interposed.” ‘Do you know the name of the party who hired them?” ‘T reckon I do, but fer reasons o’ my own, I can’t tell ve.. Ef ye go about the town very much, ye’re liable to meet him, most any min- ute. ‘‘ Very well,” Carroll said, quietly. “VU hunt the fellow up, and chastise bim, And if ever [ can in any way do you a good turn, be sure that I shall do so, uf called upon.” California Kate bowed, and turning left the room, and also jeft Carroll Holly in a deep study that verged upon perplexity. On the following morning, which shortly dawned, Carroll set out upon the street to find his enemy. He first, however, paid for his lodging at the bar, without mentioning to the host or hostess his knowledge of their attempt upon his life, Rough Shod boasted of but one narrow gulch street, but it was of considerable length, and flanked on either side by stores, saloons and cabins. Along this Carroll took his way, leisurely, scanning the face of each man he met, to learn | carbon mine which was another resemblance there, to any | favor. if he could trace an person he had ever known. But they were all rough-bearded faces of miners, going to their work, except an occasiou- al gambier or sporting character, distinguished from the rest by his ashy attire. As he was walking along, Carroll caught sight of a sign over the door of a little store ‘hat attracted more than his idle attention. The store was neat and clean-looking on the utside; a neat display of confectionery filled be show window; the sign over the door read: “EDITH YATES, CONFECTIONER.” This suggested a young and pretty lady, and Carroll went in. He hat been traveling In the mountains for months, and had seen so few pretty women that the thought of seeing one was appetizing. Nor was he mistaken in the character and appearance of the proprietress of the candy- shop. She was young and pretty—exceedingly pret- ty, he thought, as she stood behind the counter in her simple pink lawn dress and white apron, with a bunch of delicate mountain flowers at her throat, her luxuriant brown hair falling in an unconfined ripple to her waist. Her face was pretty, too, with classic features, and the sweetest little mouth, whose merry curve was but in unison with her dancing eyes ef biue. Indeed, Carroll was instantly sure that he had not met with so pretty a picture in years, if ever at all. Purchase? Of course he did; and right liber- ally, too—at any rate, a five-dollar note soon found its way into her money-drawer, and he was burdened with quite a load of sweets. ‘* Ah! [see you have cigars, too, and as I am hungry for a smoke, you may give me a couple of them on trial, although, I dare say they are the best the market aifords,” with a smile. “T trust so,” Miss Yates said, with becoming modesty. ‘‘ [always try to get the best. My eustom is not very large, and therefore | do not carry a large stock.” “Do you make this sort of business pay in so small a town?” “Hardly. Had I not a mine to back me, I fear I should be sold out at sheriff's sale, ere long,” with «a quict smile. Py ou have a mine, then?’ Carroll Holly asked, as he pocketed his candies. “Oh! yes, although you are one of a very few who know it. The Duncan mine belongs ‘* Ah!” Carroll said. He had heard of the famous Duncan mine, vhich was said to be the property of a woman, Ithough there were none who could point the vyoman out. The miue was one of the richest of its kind in the region, and employed a large number of laborers, who were under the superintendency of a close-mouthed, reticent man named Alert. “You must be pread of such a princely pos- eeasion, miss. I have heard it spoken of as the _ “boss? mine of this region.” “Oh, no, Iam not proud. The mine yields a Sei y sum, but I devote ail except what I need or my moderate expenses, to charitable insti- tyy’ons In the “é ‘Mbt is kind im you, at least. Do vou lve in tie Vest when at home?’ Carroll aked. Grad- Deadwood Dick as Detective. | | ‘ | | wants. | ee a tt et RENE CR LL ss — ? -— e+e a — — -— - o- - -_——~ _—_——_- -— -_ Once beautiful, as was still perceptible, tho ually he was drawing her into a conversation invalid was hanging on a thread as it were, be | that was the forerunner of an acquaintance. | I once, however, | / | ! i | ok my home is here. tween life and eternity. The babe, too, was a lived in Chicago, until reverses caused me to | fretful, puny little stranger, who looked as if it seek a livelihood in this wild country. I fortu- | might follow the consumptive mother to the nately came into possession of the Duncan | grave. ‘‘Here I am, Minnic, dear; what do you want?’ Edith asked, sympathy and affection in her tones. ‘‘T wanted you. because I am lonely, and oh! ‘* Who mine, through the kindness of some stranger whom I never saw, and so am placed above want, where otherwise I might have suffered.”’ ‘Very true. This is a poor place for a young lady without money or friends. Sometning | so tired,” the invalid said, wearily. rather orennre about this gift of the mine, ee to the shop, Edith?’ wasn’t there’ ‘Two men—one a customer, the other a de- ‘** Some 7s at say so. I have been consider- | tective. And such a funny-acting man, the ably mystified, but have kept my secret so well latter was, too!” ~~ very few have found out anything about Pe A Re hance oe le 6 flush stole to Edith’s cheek, ca As she said no more on the subject, Carroll | the sharpness of her sister’s tone. * me nr satisfy his curiosity with what he had “* Yes, —- might call him such,” she replied, earned, dropping her gaze. After a few more commonplace remarks, he | oy thought "an much. Edith, cian ne aye of the fair Segoe es: care | her = ge pre o vowing return again as soon as he co nc ‘““Why, Minnie! an ‘aagoer and a the Splat Pree pe sed Be. Yes st gong fool, if you look twice at in his estimation she was the prettiest maiden | any of the men who our store. In he had seen anywhere in the ky mountain | the name of Heaven; cist, Neve’ nob suffered enough, that you should not know better than to foster a single thought of a handsome face?” ‘‘There! there! sister, do not get excited, for I have not so much as thought twice of the stranger. Be quiet now, for | have some work to do in the store yet, you know,” And Jeaving a kiss upon the cheek of the in- valid, Edith hastened back to her shop duties, across the street | with a brow that was now clouded with sorrow. That afternoon a big, strapping bullwhacker, known about the town as Pineapple Pete, on account of his inordinate fondness tor the tropi- cal fruit of which his name savored, came stalk ing into the candy-shop, looking as rough and uncouth as a professional tramp. No Beauty was the loafer, for his left eye was gone, and his mouth was several sizes to large. His face, too, was rough and stubbled with beard, while his well-colored nose had some day been knock- ed somewhat to the left side of his face. é His head was bald of every hair or sign of a ‘“Me, sir?’ Edith exclaimed, in considerable | hair, which but added to the uncouthness of surprise. | his appearance, while his hat, boots and gar- “Yes, miss. Iam a detective by profession, | ments were noticeable for their collection of _ having just “een, in eer ar there are a Sah gee a ae of te in Lease a few questions | want answered. raight into the shop marched Rough Shod’s hs Very well, sir. If Ican accommodate you in | principal bully, with the air of a millionaire, that way, I shall not object,” Edith replied, | and leaned upon the counter, preparatory to eying me pekectnne ne a curiosity. sic S Sse Nas isnot ain: n the first place, who was that young gent c came attentive, for she was afraid of who just left this shop?” Phineas Porter asked, | the rough customer, although he had never tage out a rniit el and a pencil. Tore re molest her. she sates i" ave not the slightest idea, sir. ood-¢evenin’, n.iss,’ Pineapple Pete said, * Oh! you haven’t, eb y” pad graciously. ‘‘ Mebbe sere vial ar’ ruth- ig — « You probably could ascertain at | er suddint an’ ebex peste an’ ag’in mebbe my e hotel.’ austere presence intimidates ve, but ye see as “Abl yes. how I Led. a leetle business with ye, an’ T tho’t the town named Algernon Ashton?” as how I’d better drap in on ye an propagate a hy Not to my Rncwriones. a J don’t recollect ener Dy’ oe his *-pitecaats nie of hearing such a name spoken. ‘IT see. o ahead,” Edith said, briefly. A sound something es snarl came from the “ Keerect! Go ahead—on course | ey my detective’s lips. | posey—cl’ar fer all I’m worth. Hain’t got a ‘“*Youare sure?’ he asked, eying her so steadily | visitin’ keerd—nothin’ short 0’ a Jack o’ spades, as to cause her to feel uneasy. but then, et don’t matter so much, fer like’s not, Ronee sure, sir.” you’ve heerd my 1 rere i hyar in this town ** Probably you are right ” he muttered, more | 0’ Rough Shod. Pineapple Pete they call me, to himself than to her. “He may have assumed | because I luv pineapples better than ary thing a disguise,” on this yearth ’cept tarant’ler and pritty gals, He drummed a couple of minutes onthe show- | But Pineapple Pete, howsumdever, ain’t nothin’ case; then turning, abruptly, left the shop. but pure unmittigated fiction. But a few short Edith went to the door, and watched him go | weeks ago, I roosted and fiuttered my feathers down the street, in a state of perplexity and | down in Leadville, an’ thar I war known as amusement, Beautiful Bill--ther Pet Elephant o’ ther Lead- ‘‘T wonder who he is, and who Algernon | ville trail—ther Apoller of ther Colorados Ashton is, om what he op may cp ntl she | Yes, sir-ee, and bob-tailed horse. Beautiful W + . . “4 ee iow tis seomod terribly put ont ebous | ** Hodaty’do” ter ther Goddess.o' Likerty.”” something.”’ ‘* But, what has all this to do with my busi- ness?’ Edith demanded, testily, for she fea: ed. and was disgusted with the loafer. ‘‘ Please: you are a fool!” region. And moreover, she was owner of a int in her Not that Carroll was a fortune-hunter, for he had plenty of wealth for his immediate But then, you know, men value a gold doliar much higher than one of copper, and the same, literally, might safely be applied to their estimation of the opposite sex. A man had been standing from the candy-shop, since Carroll entered, and when he came out and went down the street, this man crossed over and entered the candy- shop. Rdith was behind the counter, re-arranging her trays of candies, but looked up with her customary pleasant expression, which reminded one of a beam of sunshine. The man was Phineas Porter, detective. ‘* Excuse me, miss,” he said, doffing his hat, ‘Lut I have a little matter of business on hand, and I want to enlist you in my service.” eee Well, nextly, is there a man in CHAPTER III. MEREDITH SCHEMES. state what ye want, and then go.” ‘“ Eprra! Edith!” called a voice from an ‘Tut, tut, little gal, don’t be crabbed, neow,; apartment in the rear of the shop. ‘‘ Edith, do | Ye don’t realize, mebbe, thet ye’re in ther pres- you hear?” ence o’ a meteoric comet—a thunderbolt, a ragin’ cyclone. Beauty combined wi’ bizness am I, clean to the backbone, you bet. ‘And now fer ny errand. Mebbe you've lived ing these parts longer than I hev, an’ mebbe, too ye can tell me ef ye know a man in Rough Shod named Algernon Ashton ?” Edith started. Eere, then, was another in- quiry after Algernon Ashton. First it was Phineas Porter whe had asked; now it was the greasy loafer, Pineapple Pcie, alias Beautiful Bill. What was the mysterv? ‘“‘T never heard of such a man, nor do I !).-: - there is such a man in the town,” Tdit! 7°. plied. . GOMIG The voice was like the wail of some tortured spirit, and Edith turned back into the shop, with a little sigh. ‘* ‘Yes, Minnie,” she said, opening a door into a little sitting-room, and entering—a room that was illy finished, and rudely furnished, yet which had the quiet comforts of a home. ‘“‘ Here I am, sister; what do you want?’ A pale, wan face looked wp from the depths of a large cushioned chair, where a young woman was bolstered up, with a tiny babe in her arms—a face devoid of every trace of color, with the eyes sunken and haggard in their ex- pression | EL a | ON ONO) nm ES