Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 1096 — page 5: what you’re looking at

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

the midst of life we are in death, you know, and it’s better late than never.” ‘¢ A snide preacher, b’gosh!” exclaimed Ham Stanton, disgustedly. ‘‘The uncertainty of life and the certainty of death,” the stranger ran on, in loud voice, ‘* are matters that stare us in the face, Truth is mighty—mighty scarce in some instances, and you can’t get out of it. Hence the question arises—W hat are you going to do about it?” W jth that he drew in his long right arm from its extended position, and hit an attitude with | both arms akimbo, ‘A darn sanctimonious crank!” ejaculated S mon Slow, contemptuously, Rev. Bray was in the crowd, but he did not push ‘to the fore, He had had one taste of wandering evangelist lately, and evidently the sore had not healed. But they were mistaken in their estimate, for this man was no preacher, as they were soon to Jearn. No one answered his question, and after a moment’s pause he spoke up egain in the same loud voice as before, answering it himself, “What are you going to do about it, I de- mand!” he cried, “ T’ll tell you the best thing that you can do, looking the grim truth square- ly in the face, and that is--Get insured! Gen- tlemen, I represent the Great Hoard Up and Hold Fast Insurance Company, the finest cr- ganization of its kind in the world!” With that his bands went into a pocket on either side of his coat, coming forth again with a fling, and yreat flaming /flag-like posters .were unfurled to the morning breeze. The stranger was showing his colors, “That's what you want to do about it,” he cried, ** Where do you hail from, sir?” inquired Gold- plate George, ‘From the mighty city of Chicago, the pride of the nation, sir!” was the instant reply. ‘And where are you going?” ‘‘My business just now, sir, is right here!” wis the response, ‘SI have the good of hu- nianity at beart. I want to insure every man, woman and child in your camp.” ‘* City, sir, if you please,” corrected Lawyer Corker, ‘*Ha! A city, eh? Beg ycur pardon, citi- gens, My blunder, and my treat as soon as l have properly introduced myself. By the way, pr city has a mayor, as goes without saying. would like to see him,” ‘‘ {am marshal of the place, sir,” announced Gold-plate. ‘* Hal I should have been able to tell that at once by your bearing, sir, had I my eyes about me. Fact is, I bave been long in the saddle, and ain about tuckered, I want to get permission, sir, to do business in yourcam— Ha! your par- don; city.” ‘* Yon mean insurance business?” ‘To be sure,” ‘* Wall, I guess you can go ahead, if you can find anytninz to insure.” ‘* It isa duty that every man owes to bis fam- ily, friends and creditors, tu get out an invurance on his life,’ the agent sponted. ‘* Death is a certainty, as we all know, but the sting is nip- Dandy Dick’s Dragnet. Phineas Teaberry, duly authorized agent for the Great Hoard Up and Hold Fast Insurance Com- pany, ters there during my stay.” ‘Yas; but that treat?” ““T am with you now, Will somebody take charge of my mule? Thank you, sir. Be care- ful not to get within range of his hindquarters, upless you are insure,” With that, Phineas Teaberry slipped out of the saddle, leaving bis mule in the keeping of a man who had voluuteered to mind it for bim, and led the way to the bar-room. There he kept his word regarding the promise ~ a treat, and the eager crowd did full honor to 1im, After the treat he registered, and when he had made arrangements for the care of his mule, be- gan to talk insurance to every man he could corner, There was a good deal of speculation regard- ing this man, o mueh bad been seen, of late, of wonderful disguises, that many were firm iu the opinion that this was Dick Darrel. Of these, Simon Slow was one of the strongest advocates. He tried to force the same idea into the mind of Ham Stanton, but to no purpose. “Tl bet ye five dollars it’s so,” Simon offered. ‘f And [ll bet a fiver it isn’t,” Ham answered. ‘*T think ’'d know Dick Darrel now, no matter what rig he put on.” * All right; its done. It’s five even, whether it is Dick Darrel or it ain’t bim, Ham, you ar’ goin’ ter lose, sure as smoke,” “it’s an easy thing ter be mistaken, Simon, You wait now till Dick an’ see whar you’ll be, ou’ll find that Ham kin see straight yet, if he ain’t as young as he used to was.” es CHAPTER VII. SOMETHING MORE TO PONDER’ OVER.’ ‘“ WHo is that you are talking about, boys?” Ham and his companion looked quick) y around to see who had overheard, It was Sinclair Fowley, who was standing poet them and who bad not been noticed be- ore, ‘+s Why, that ar’ stranger,” answered Simon. “Tm bettin’ Ham a fiver that it’s Dick Darrel, in another of bis make-ups.” ** And you are betting it isn’t, eh, Ham?” ‘*That’s what I am, sir,” ‘* Well, you may be mistaken,” “a don’t think he could fool me a third time, sir. ‘*T don’t know about that. know it isn’s Darrel,” Fowley looked Ham squarely in the eyes as he said this, as if to read his mind, **An’ mebby I don’t,” Ham responded, re- turning the look steadily enough, ‘‘ But be ain’t got Dick Darrel’s look about him.” ‘** Neither had the Italian, bad he?” ** Waal, no.” ‘* Nor the Indian, eh?” és No.” **And yet these were Dick Darrel, as we af- terward learned, No one would have believed But, maybe you makes hisself known, | | exodus from the hotels and saloons and other | resorts, and Uncle Josey was seen bearing down If I can be accommodated here at the | toward the Square about on time, United States Hotel, I shall make my headquar- | In a few moments more the old ‘* hearse” was at hand, ‘‘Whoap!” sung’ out Josey. ‘“‘Hyar we is | ergain, me boyees, How do | find ye?” | “* Yer finds us alive an’ kickin’,” was the re- sponse. ‘But, what bas yer got aboard tbis hyar time?” | .'*Peel yer eyes an’ see fer yerselves,” was the ‘answer, ‘‘Come, folkses,” to bis passengers, | ** we has arrove, so tumble out o’ thar.” ; | On top were two or three men who bad the ap- ‘spearance of miners, and one Chinaman. | These were already getting down, the China- | man last, when some one in the crowd ex. | Claimed: ‘* Yang Kee, by ther tarne]!” * Duro me if it ain’t!” echoed another, ‘Hard matter ter disguise a Chinee, I'd opine.” At mention of bis nationality; the Chinaman _ looked around, baving sprung to the ground. | And his doing so seemed to confirm the recog- | nition that had already been made. He certain- ly looked like Dick Darrel’s Celestial. | There was no time for further comment or | question just then, for the door of the stage bad | Opened and a woman’s dainty foot had touched | the step and her form filled the door, She sprung out, a rather good-looking young woman of twenty-five or so, clad in neat but | plain traveling dress, Another immediately followed, a younger wo- man somewhat resembling the otber, and simi- larly clad, The Chinaman immediately gave proof that he was their servant, | He stepped forward, took their bags and | wraps, and brought forth other things from the stage. The two women looked around at the crowd coolly, then glanced at the hotel, and led the way ia that direction, the Chinaman following, j “ If that ain’t Yang Kee I’m a snoozer,” de- clared Simon Slow, ; | “Then that’s what yer be;” disputed Ham Stanton, ‘** fer it ain’t him no more’n I be,” ‘* Why, darn it, Ham, do yer mean ter tell me that IL can’t see straight?” cried Simon, ‘I | leave it to ther crowd. | | But the crowd seemed to have settled it in | Simon’s favor already. The general belief was that this was Yang ee However, the Chinaman did not recognize anybody there, but went straight abead after the women, attending to his own business, | When the driver bad exchanged some re- marks with those in the crowd, and had put | out the mail and other matter he bad brought, ' he drove off, and the crowd to a great extent broke up. Meantime the two women had gone straight into the hotel, and the elder had entered the bar-room. The Cuinaman remained in the hall with the younger. ‘*Can you accommodate us with room dnd @ ~e +54 el vy " wr Pa a At, A er wrt - ds a ry Sn . jas; + e* lodging, sir?” the woman asked of Chaflie | Bloome, the clerk, “Yes, ma’m,” was the answer. She inquired the terms, and so forth, and: when it was understood, the clerk pusbed the register toward her. Taking up the pen, sbe wrote, in a bold, free haud; ‘““MABLE SILVERTON, } * _— 4 o* », a \ —— + a . - . ¢ ed in the bud if you have a policy ip the Great old Up and Hold Fest, IL present to you the opportunity of a lifecime, gentlemen,” ‘Au’ what if a feller ain’t got no family, friends or creditors?” asked Simon Stow. ‘Then leuve it to some other fellow’s family, friends or creditors, and they will rise up and en ll you blesse:i,” was the reply. * An’ what about that treat?’ asked some one | else in the crowd, ‘** Business first and pleasure after,” was the se a ‘On, of course not; we won't mention it, “Thais what [T means,” the fellow rejoined,; only among ourselves, Let him work it in his ‘When a stranger says treat, we gen’ly makes | Own way, that tier 7u’ss busines ter be "tended to.” | ‘*Then why not believe that this man is he? | It looks a good deal more reasonable, to my way of thinking.” ‘“Waal, mebby you is right, Mister Fowley; but I don’t believe it,” ‘* But you do, Simon?” ‘You bet I do; but it won’t do ter let it out, fer if might upset his plans for ther capture of ther Seven,” 4) - - : : SS ets: e,! — pr SS ri . —_ *% ep aS e _ 2 _ is . <- — ‘ ey a es —— | « ae = it.” ** You is right, so fur.” -Onkland, Cal ” - , 2 ** * 5 r °., o ay = ee Fa os ““GRACE SILVERTCN, \ ** And now about our Chinese servant,” she said, ‘* Will you permit him to eat iv the Of course it wouldn’t be safe for | kitchen and sleep in the hali?” him to come here without disguise of some sort.” |‘ I guess there will be no trouble about that,” yo “, > ail o-_™ ~~ - > a ” a Wer $e i 4 __ + * dt ; , ~-s ~~ = af in tS eee CS Lo. ae = = .* an ae” I * -— - a, = oe» *®. | > a nd ~ Pgh on sé Very well: he wrth you ina minute, I won't forget, Half the enjoyment of the spice of life isin the anticipation, you know. I am talking insurance now. importance of insurance,” “But, a feller bas ter die to win,” some one obj-cred, Let me impress upou you the | And with that Mr. Fowley passed on, leaving Ham and Simon to their talk. Many others were of the same opinion as Simon Slow and. Sinclair Fowley, and it was soon no secret anywhere. Groups of men stared at the stranger for minstes at a time, while he was industriously * And haven’t yoo got to die anyhow? With ! talking insurance to some cornered victim, but a policy, you answer the call with a full hand, | that’s the diff-renes, my friend,” ‘** Ane let some other feller marry yer widdy, and live like a prince on ther price of yer life, hey? Not any in mine, Stranger, it hits me you has struck a hard place this hyar time,” ‘* Wait and see, sir, Perhaps you will be the first man I'll insure. Now, no more for the present, but to attend to thar treat. Gentlemen all, let me introduce myself to you: I am : ae : Je “A «4, oF lee), 3 : 1 U . . Ph ie o o a ( ral ans P * PI : 2 nae | x 1, M4 rh os oy ‘ F Y ; : ¥ - none could satisfactorily answer the problem, y Was he, or was he not? That was the ques- ion. This was a stage day at Imperial. The day passed quietly, and the hour for the stage to arrive soon came, On the public Square the usual stage-day crowd was congregated, and presently the word was passed that the stage was coming, The crowd was iminediately augmented by the ' era 7 i Y ; ed ; | | a ye V/s r + ee S. re ates i, cof rey, X.2 Oe 4 PR ble Bo OP ee “as A Awe er Pak promi-ed Charlie, “Very well, and thank you, sir,” The clerk called a boy who was a sort of handy | Jack about the house, aud the new guests were shown to their room, Scarcely sooner had the woman left tha bhar- room than Gold-plate George came in and Jouk- ed at the register, with more than ordivary in- terest, it seemed, ‘* She didn’t put down the name of that Chi- nee,” be observed, , ** No,” said the clerk. ** Did you see the cuss?” “Only at a distance, when he was vetting ~ down,” “Tne boys all sa rad’s old Celestial,’ ‘* He looks enough like him,” it’s Yang Kee, Doctor Uon-