Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 1096 — page 6: what you’re looking at

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

6 ‘¢ And we believe that this Phineas Teaberry is no other than Dick Darrel,” ‘““] can’t say anything about that; the devil bimself couldn’t swear to that man, I believe.” ‘‘ And you’re more than half right, too.” That ended the remarks, and soon after that the marshal was in conversation with Lawyer Corker and Baldwin Bloome, It was only a little later when the women’s Chinese servant came down and»into the bar- is room, 4 “ 1 Ham Stanton and Simon Slow were there, among others. Tbe Chinaman was asking for water for the room, saying there was none there, aud Han and Simon looked up. ‘** Tt’s ther Chinee, Simon,” said Ham. ‘*Yas; Yang Kee, sure enough.” ‘*Get out! No more’ Yang Kee than you be.” . ‘Pll prove it to yer,” cried Simon, getting up. ribeaine to where the Chinaman stood, he Ny FC him on the back, ‘* Hello, Yang Kee!” he cried, ‘*‘ Whar did sad hail from this hyar time? What ye doin’ yar?” The Chinaman gave a start as the band fell upon him, and looked around with a face the picture of alarm. ** Me no sabe,” he gasped. “I say how-d’-do,” cried Simon. yer fiv.” He took the fellow’s limp hand as he said this, apd shook it heartily. The Chinaman Jooked at him in a helpless sort of way, as if wishing he might soon make his escape. There seemec to be littleof Yang Kee’s snap about the fellow. ff CHAPTER VIII. MARSHAL PIERRE NONPLUSED. WHILE he shook the Celestial’s hand, Simon was looking hard into his face. And even as he looked, an expression of doubt . came over hisown. Certainty was not so sure a thing as it had been, **Saay, what’s yer name?” Simon demanded. **Me name Hop Wab,” was the reply. ‘* Never heerd o’ Yang Kee, did yer?” ** Me no sabe,” ‘“*No, in course yer don’t; cuss ye! Yer wouldn’t tumble if ther house fell in on ye, Whar ar’ ye from?” ** Me flom San F"lisco,” ** And yer name is Hop Wah?” ** Allee samee,” “Whar did yer leave Dandy Dick?” The Celestial shook his head solemnly. m ** No sabe, no sabe,” he muttered. ee ‘* No; an’ darn me if I sabe, either,” growled . Simon, ashe dropped the band and turned back een again to where Ham stood. _ Ham was laughing at bim in a quiet way. ** Waal, Simey, what did yer make out of it? I opine ye ain’t as sartain as ye was.” “You hit it jest right,” growled Mr. Slow, slowly. ‘“‘If that ar’ heathen ar’ Yang Kee, ee if he ain’t most as good as Darrel him- self, Ham laughed, making some response as they out, and they bent their steps in the direction of the Peach Blow. When supper was called at the United States that evening, it was a motley assembly that en- circled the board, Fits At the head of the board was Phineas Tea- ee herry, whose tongue was even longer than his i tah name. , Next to bim sat Gideon Gobles, his wife Han- nah beside him, and their Chinese servant stand- a behind their chairs, | urther down, on the same street, were the j late arrivals, the Misses Silverton, and opposite _ them sat George Pierre and Sinclair Fowley. Then there were others, of varying types, who need not be mentioned in particular. All togetber, it was a heterogeneous gathering, as d at first. Gold-plate George and Mr. Fowley were talk- ing | between themselves, while Mr. Teaberry held sway over the rest of the board, giving them insurance as though that was all he ‘Give us new, 3 a . “And do I understand that you have lost a _ son, sir?” he presently demanded of Gideon Gobles, “If you understand it that way, sir, you un- derstand it aright,” was the grave reply, i Insured? gat, gra pry : on ” Too bad, too bad. It witnesses to the truth r fs : > 1 * t Ae st) uty * ‘ 1) oe ey. ¢. eh # Git) an I 4 ve? d Teas et I. f . r t . is Saw’ ¢ ‘ “bus ¥ 7 aun 8 7 ye me ¢ by ~ f 4 ay } -_ a a 3 x oe ee \ > » = ‘ee * “t : of what I have been saying, on this very line, 7 y ei , sa Ee bs SER MD Sp rl eae 8 4 € fi oe ¢ ° ’ “se & fy LF a - oe rr. | " hops 7 ¢ Dandy Dick’s Dragnet. Now, if your son had only been insured fora few thousands, sir, see what a benefit he would have conferred upon you,” ‘*And do you suppose we would have taken any price for our dear boy?” cried Mrs. Gobles, ‘* Positively not, dear madam,” was the re- sponse. ‘ But, grim death never takes our af- fections into account, He touches where he will, and spares not, Therefore, it ‘is meet that we should be the more prepared for him when he comes like a thief in the night to rob us of our dear ones,” ‘But we don’t know that our Simeon is dead,” ‘* Er— a— what’s that?” ‘* We don’t know that he is dead.” ‘Why, sir,” to Gideon, ‘‘ you said you had lost a son.” ‘* And so we have,” was theaflirmation; ‘ but kL didn’t say anything about his being dead, did I?” ‘‘Hal youarea fortunate man, It may not be too late yet. Get him insured, get him insured at once, and if the worst comes you will be happy.” : ‘‘ Happy!” cried Mrs, Gobles, horrified, Gideon looked at the man in scorn and con- tempt. ‘* Happy, at such a time,” he almost groaned. ‘* Have you no heart in your bosom?” demand- ed Mrs, Gobles, ‘*Sir, madam,” cried the unfortunate Tea- bury, in bumble apology, ‘‘forgiveme, You do not understand, No one knows better than I how sad a thing death is; but you muSt agree with me that a policy at such a time is a sooth- ing balm in the majority of cases,” ‘*Wretch!” *‘T would not wound your feelings, ma’am. Let it be admitted that there are exceptions to every rule! You are the exception tothis. But, this lost son of yours, let us suppose he never is found—” ‘** Gideon!” cried Mrs, Gobles, almost in tears; **Gideon, make him stop, or 1 must leave the room,” ** Noble mother!” cxclaimed Teaberry, before Gobles could speak, ‘* It is of such as thou that oets sing, I have done, I will say no more. us hope that this son yet lives, and that he may soon be clasped to your breast as of yore.” The fond mother cheered up at once, ‘** Noble parents!” the eoluble Teaberry cried, ** How easy it is to be mistaken. Noble-hearted parents! Model parents! Your thought is not for yourselves, but for the missing boy. I made a wrong suggestion. I[t is you who should get insured for his benefit.” Mr. and Mrs, Gobles looked at each other, ‘¢ Am I not right?” cried Teaberry. ‘I leave it to the company present, Your hearts’ affec- tions are centered upon this worthy youth. What more fitting then, as a lasting showing of your regard, than for each of you to take outa big policy in the greatest company on earth?” ** Thad never thought of it that way, Hannah,” said Gideon to his better half, ‘*But, we won’t leave him by any means poor,” reminded Mrs, Gobles, “That is just the point,” cried the agent, warming uptoit, ‘** You are well fixed, I take it, Somuch the better. - You can afford the large policies. When you go to your fathers, so to say, you can lenve your boy double what you are worth; and you know that the span of your years is varrowing day by day, That young man will have double reasen to cherish your memory and follow your precepts.” ‘¢ We will think about it,” said Gideon. ‘If you could only restore him to us now,” sighed Mrs, Gobles, ‘Perhaps you may have seen him in your travels, sir,” suggested Gideon, with sudden interest, ‘Tt is possible,” agreed Teaberry. ‘* His name is Simeon Gobles, sir; a fair, slight young man, with freckles all over his face, and blind in one eye. The other eye, sorry to have to add, is crossed. Afflictions seldom come single you know.” ‘*T haven’t seen him,” said the insurance man, promptly. ‘*Tke description is so plain that it does not require long study to answer the ques- tion, Ihave not seen him. If I had, I should remember it, Yes; think it over, Mr. Gobles, and we will see further about the scheme,” The talkative agent bad not the board so much to bimself now as he had been having, Marshal Pierre had opened conversation with the Misses Silverton. Seeing this, Teaberry gave way a little. ** So, you are from Oakland, eh?” the marshal had just remarked, ** Yes, sir,” answered Miss Mable, Oe ae or Pp ‘** And that accounts for your having a Chi- nese servant, I presume?” ‘* Why so, sir?” The proximity to San Francisco. Mr. Gobles here is from San Francisco, and you see he has one. The lady spoke passingly to Mrs. Gobles. ‘* By the way,” said Pierre, ‘‘ this Chinaman | of yours, Miss Silverton, looks very much lke |e one that went away from here only a short time | oo,” “Indeed?” ** Yes; and so much so that some of the boys have noticed it, and some declare positively that itis the same fellow. But, of course, that cannot be,” **No; for we have never been here before, | and out servant has not been absent from us 1n . two years, Hoe isa devoted fellow, and we like i him very well. His name is Hop Wab,.” 7 if ** This otLer’s name was Yang Kee,” ** That settles the question, then. You may tell them they are mistaken.” -_ ‘As I certainly will. But, you know, all i Chinamen seem to look more or less alike, to | i our American eyes,” . | ‘*In a general way, yes,” agreed Miss Grace, the younger. ‘Tk Whatever Gold-plate had been trying to get : 2 at, i¢ was plain that he had not made any- thing. | —- a If that Chinaman was Yang Kez, he certainly K. had two artful defenders; and if it was he, who _ were they ? | siege = some such question as that was turn- - | ing itself in the marshal’s mind, for he soon | lapsed into a thoughtful silence, and soon after | all rose from the table, _ if The ladies went at once to their room, as did , . also Mr. Phineas Teaberry, and in their rooms Vy oe something of a surprise awaited them all. They : found there messages of singular import. -_ on = ~ ~ — é x CHAPTER IX, - © PUT TO THE TEST. - i WHEN Phineas Teaberry entered his room, be and had closed the door after him, a new ex- -— pression came upon his face, From his bland, half-smiling self,/as Phineas Teaberry, the insurance agent, a grim and stern look came into his face, his jaws seemed to uare, and his goat-like beard seemed out of place beneath such a chin as bis, Droppipg upon a chair a sigh escaped him, and he let go of himself for the moment, as a disciple of Belsarte might say, He lay back, resting his head, and his arms hung listlessly at bis sides, a tired look follow- ing the first change noted, and he closed his eyes, This was only for a few moments, and he sat up again, light burned in his keen eyes, and he rose and stepped to the window of his room and vd looked out,@esting a hand on the table, Ky After a momentary view of the scene he * turned away, and as he did so his eye caught . sight of a folded paper on the table, ae Taking it up with half-interest, he looked at Me it, and as he did so something made him start, Penciled on one side of the paper was his own name, thus: : ‘‘ PHINEAS TEABERRY, Esq,” ‘“What can_this mean?” he asked himself, half-aloud. ‘‘ Who can have written a note to me?” Opening it, a yet greater surprise awaited him as he read the message it contained, — - It was as follows: “To Mr. TEABERRY:— “You are in danger here at Imperial City. You are mistaken for another person, who bas enemies here who seek his life. Be on your guard every mo- ment, if you remain; but it will be safer for you to et away, I have done mv duty in warning you. ok out for yourself, Toz Orner FELLOW.” “The other fellow, eh? the finder comment- ed, smiling to himself, ‘Another Teaberry, he bad read it again, anyhow?” e looked at the writing critically and thoughtfully, at first reaching to bis ip as if to ae pull a mustache, but contenting bimself by tug- a ging at his whisker. ‘Mistaken for another person, am I?” he re- rhaps,” he added, when ‘Wonder what 16 means, flected. ‘* My life in danger and I must be on my r my guard every moment. That is, if I remain; Cwag and I think I shall. This must be the sum of all the whisperings I have noticed,” i a Folding the paper, ‘he tore it into bits and cast a | it into a corner, eg ‘Yes: it must be that Iam mistaken for this = = Dick Darrel, of whom so much is said,” That (Si re ¥e * ; : P are) re } oe ural a wea >a ss ; nl tli WAN - a3 aut: re Oe coh it . + va “4s pie DALE EY! 4 Sh Rt tee th we: id : pth 2 ~ ¢ fa yeh. ; bg it - | | * “ ; pi. aly wm - hd rf » Ae +." gal \_ | _. Peal YS oe PAS TR aC , - | ta? Se Db vse at ee _@) ial