Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 1096 — page 11: what you’re looking at

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

: : _ ~ «er. £ - ~ - ~ — ie cf” “Ke ~~ oe walk ~* eS — ri oe ae a ao | "wa ® ~~ a or? — ¥ : => Cand <= = - a ae a, wd . 3S ee ri 7 om AS - so et x, “ Aimy fat So . = Such a » As near him, Gold-plate pushed through to the place where the body was hanging. True enough, there hung a Chinaman, evi- dently quite dead, and on his breast was some sort of notice or placard, ‘** Be he dead?” was demanded, **T’'m afraid he is,” auswered the marshal. ** Te’s cut him down an’ see,” ** Yes; cut him down as quick as you can,” Goid-plate directed. ‘‘ There may be a spark of life in the poor devil yet.” The other end of the rope was speedily found, and a knife quickly applied to it, when the body He the Celestial came to the ground in a limp eap. ** Dead as a nail,” said the marshal, sadly. ** An’ what’s that writin’ on him, Goldy?’ was inquired, ‘** Just what I want to see,” was the answer, ** Stand back, some of you!” Some of the nearer ones fell back a little, and others took hold of the dead man and laid him out straight, There wus no question about his being dead now, for he was not only so, but cold, thougb not yet rigid. ‘*Tt’s Yang Kee, sure!” cried the marshal, ‘* What do it say?” Gold-plate read the notice out aloud for the benefit of the crowd. ‘* Warnin’ ter Darrel!” **Ther Invisibles ergain!” ** He’d better dust out while he kin!” *‘Cuss ther Invisibles! A pity we couldn’t hang them!” These cries and many more of the like were heard ov every, band, and the crowd grew larger each moment. ** What are we going to do?” asked Sinclair Fowley. ‘** Don’t see that we can do anything to-night,” answered the marshal, “* These villains ought to be hunted down and severely dealt with. .This sort of thing won’t ** We all agree with you, Mr. Fowley, but how can you get hold of invisible foes? You show them to me, and see how quick Vll deal with them,” ‘*'Yes; an’ hyar, too,” cried Ham Stanton, who bad just come up. And there were many more who echoed the same sentiment, but that was all it amounted * Then these outlaws believe this is really Yang Kee, do they?’ spoke Sinclair Fowley. hi om and I imagine they know what they are doing,” answered Gold-plate. ** And if so, then Darrelis in danger.” ** As you see by this notice,” ** Bat, is it Yang Kee?” It was Simon Slow who raised the doubt. ‘*Don’t it look enough like him?” demanded the marshal, ; ** It looks like bim, yas; but that don’t make it him. It’s ther ladies’ sarvant, ain’t it?” ‘* Yas; but we all believes it ar’ Yang Kee,” another made response to that. “Tm one that don’t believe it, then,” Ham Stanton spoke. ‘* You’re always on the other side,” sneered Fowley. ‘‘P'm allus on ther right side, anyhow,” Ham retorted, ‘‘an’ ther right gen’ly comes out on top in ther end.” * What do you mean?” ** No more’n what I say.” ** And the less you say the better for you.” “I had ther idee that this byar was a free country, an’ a feller could say about what he pleased,” Ham growled, ‘So long as his betters are pleased to let him.” ‘“* Thunderation!. Do you niean ter call your- self ther betters o’ me?’ Ham demanded, hotly. You can take it to yourself if it fits you,” was the answer, Ham was about taking another step forward, but did not, drawing back instead, ‘*Tf you had said that balf a dozen hours sooner,” be grumbled, ‘‘ Pd ’a’ sent ye to ther ground half killed.” “You are welcome to try it, if you want to, sir,” invited Fowley. ‘No; not now.” ‘* What’s the difference of a few hours?” ‘IT know more than I did a while ago, that’s all,” was Ham's answer. The mine-manager looked after him, his face white and red by turns, and made no further remark, _ Perbaps it wasa word from Gold*plate George that bad checked him, Anyhow, there the matter ended. thing as this, a quarrel between such : x f 2 * ’ ry | 74 ~E 4 ‘ tt at . i e . q ae * [. - } Dandy Dick’s Dragnet. —— - a ae ee men as Fowley and Ham Stanton, had drawn attention from the other matter at once, Now that it was over, though, attention was again turned to the dead Chinee, ** What is goin’ ter be done wi’ him, marshal?” was asked. ‘You'll have to take him to the hotel,” was the answer, ‘‘That’s where he belongs, I sup- ose. I don’t see what took him out at night.” ‘*Don’t ther note tell plain enough what it was?’ demanded Ham Stanton, who had turned back again. ** What do you mean now?” | ** Tt must ha’ been ther Invisibles, that’s what I mean,” ‘* That banged bim, yes; but they could never have got him out of the hotel if he hagn’t gone willingly. The house would have been alarmed.” This view was accepted by the most of the crowd at once, ‘*We kin think as we please about that,” growled Ham, ‘“‘ onless thar’s a law hyar against thinkin’, too.” ‘1 don’t want any words with you, Stanton,” Gold-plate waived. ‘*‘ You are evidently ina bad humor to-night. Come, boys, pick the poor fellow up and bring him along.” The body of the Chinaman was taken up and carried in the direction of the hotel, the crowd following. “ By this time everybody in the house was up, and the Gobles, the Misses Silverton, and Phineas Teaberry, were on the piazza. As the first of the crowd neared the house, they questioned as to what bad taken place, and were informed that it was ‘‘only a hanged Chinee.” At this the two young women were interested at once, and ran down the steps and forward to meet the men who were bearing the body that way; and as their eyes fell upon the face of the dead Celestial, both uttered cries of grief. Phineas Teaberry had followed ‘them, perhaps out of curiosity, and he, too, appeared moved by what he saw. CHAPTER XVI. y, BEHIND CLOSED DOORS, ‘Ou! men, what have you done?” cried Mable Silverton, at sight of her dead servant, ** Tt wasn’t us what done it, ma’m,” responded one of the foremost of the wild crowd, ‘ It was ther Invisibles what did it. They hanged him, an’ we has just cut ther pore cuss down.” ** Poor Hop Wah!” sighed Grace, ** This is really too bad, ladies,” said Gold-plate George. “It appears that the outlaws have hanged him for Yang Kee.” **But he was not that person, sir; we know that, well enough,” ‘*Then itis a most remarkable resemblance, But, the outlaws could not know that, of course,” ‘* How did they get him? He was in the hotel asleep, was he not?” **We cannot answer that, not knowing. In some way he must have been enticed out of doors.” ** Poor Hop! You will avenge his death, will you not, marshal?” “I will try to, [ faithfully promise you that,” was the response, ‘** And what will you do with the body?” ** W batever you say, madam.” ‘Well, bring it in and lay it out decently, and to-morrow it must be buried. Poor Hop! the most faithful servant we ever bad.” The ladies did not shed any tears, but evident- ly felt bad enough over their loss, that kind of mil ha one might feel over the loss of a pet ani- mal, The body was carried into the hall and laid out on a teble there, and after a time the crowd broke up and gradually the house and the street became quiet once more, On the following morning the Chinaman was buried, Reverend Bray doing the proper thing in the way of a funeral service, It was while the funeral service was going on that Mr. Teaberry, on the piazza of the tel, accosted Mr, Fowley.on the matter of in- surance again, | ** Well, sir,” he opened, ** how about it?” “How about what?” Fowley inquired. ** [nsurance, of course.” Mr. Fowley laughed heartily. ** That seems to be the only idea you have at command,” he said, ‘‘ That is where my bread and butter lie, sir,” was the response to that. : “* How much longer do you think you can im- pose upon me, my man?” 7 ad Py an is oy eo rs sh uw ‘A : 7 a ' * by Age’ «/ P f 4 ; L { - pie 4 ie | P Mat Ue bs So a Sp er : Pa <9" n at ys ' “% +7 'b " s A 5 . are, 4 + ie $4 hee el ; % . Bi .s. ca - > ae b ‘ 11 ‘Impose upon you, sir? I don’t know what you mean?” ** You almost make me disgusted with your attempt.” ‘Mr, Fowley, you will have to make yourself clearer, if you want me to understand you. Do you think my insurance is not good?’ pep { think it is all a farce, that’s what I think of it, ‘* And why? Whuat proof have you for that? The company I represent is certainly a solid one,” ‘* What took place over there in the saloon last night?’ ‘“*Why, I merely had a little frolic with the boys, to make myself solid with them.” “You did more than that. You took Big Ben and stood him on his head, did you not?” ‘*Ob, no; [ merely shoved him away from me when he was going to do desperate things with my person, that was all.” ‘* Well, whatever it was, there was only one man that could have done it, and that was Dick Darrel, You are that man, and what is the use of denying it?” “Ha! ha! on the old string, Still Darping eh? My dear sir, how am you of your error?” “You can’t do it. You’re Dick Darrel and nobody else. Not that I care anything about it, I’m not going to mention it; but I hate to see you so conceited that you think nobody can see anything.” ‘*Then I may as wellown up, I suppose,” “‘Of course you had,” cried Fowley, with eager interest. ‘** Well, I would, if you were right, but you’re wrong. Iam not Dick Darrel.” **] know better.” ‘*Then there is no use talking about it any further,” ‘““Why can’t you trust me? I won’t give it away, if you want to keep on playing your present character: but I do hate to be made a part of your scheme,” ** How made a part?” “By being eternally pestered about insu- rance,” ‘“‘T see that it is of no use for me to say any- thing further to you on that line, then.” * Not a bit of use. You may as well give it up.’ ** Very well, I won't trouble you any more, Ah! herecomes Mr, Gobles; I must tackle him once more.” With a smile as of contempt, Mr. Fowley moved away, as Mr. Gobles came up, ‘ ‘** And how is it with you?’ Teaberry greeted, ‘**Oh, as usual,” was the response. ‘I have received no tidings yet.” ‘Too bad, I hope the lost will soon be found. But, how about insurance? I am eager to write your policy.” going to convince ‘** Do you know, sir, dear Hannab and I have’ been talking about that very thing. We think your suggestion a grand one, and as soon as dear Simeon has been—” ‘* It is folly to wait, sir. Life is too uncertain, If your son is found, as I feel sure he will be, it will be all right, and should the worst be learned, then it will be easy to transfer it to some one else who is deserving.” “* But, the uncertainty of it all—” ‘**No matter, no matter, If you will come to my room with me I will tell you all about it, from beginning to end, outside and in.” ** Well, I don’t mind; but I can’t say that I'l take it out yet, you know. I will go up with you, as I want to talk with you a little in pri- vate anyhow.” ‘“‘ Ab! if that is the case, come right along.” Teaberry rose and entered the house, Gobles following, and they were soon in Teaberry’s room, What was said, behind that closed door, we will not now reveal, Let it suffice to say that insurance was not the subject of conver — sation, It was that night, at supper, that Gideon Gobles entered the room a little late, bis face wearing a smile that no one bad seen on it be fore, and he appeared to be happy. ‘‘ Why, what’s the good word, Mr, Gobles?” inquired Mr, Fowley. “ The lost is found!” was the response, , ie ‘“* What, you have found your boy?” ** We have heard from him, sir.” ‘“‘Ha! Iam glad to hear it. Where is he?” ‘“* At a place called Bowlder Canyon.” | “ That is Spent miles from here. How did you hear about it?” ~ ‘* ‘You remember I told you I had sent out let- ters of inquiry.” 3 ae PALS “Yes.” vers te ae Be i te Boe & e | | | | jy o JL < 2c g 4 ' edd ¢ ob ) hy —" : ‘ *} [* te tog os iF, . if ga ee =") u¢¥ > % books.com . + be. (Te ' ‘et cer’, See, Ot Fan cee. “~ ,. ZS - s. *,\, LS. Phe. 2 . epee ‘ id 4 oa io J " 'e " * y al —- _mee nasil a a oe “ . ri ai ron °o Pr 7 + ae). ~~ ~ o q 7 aa} ‘} oa a! \? 2° ‘ya ¥ a 4 - ' \Y : ‘ - 60) ave! «ae - 143 i ae i