Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 121 — page 3: what you’re looking at

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

-—-- Oe Oe Dandy Dell turned in the direction indicated by the f-breed, and saw a horse and rider ng leisurely into the town, over the route had recently come. The horse, perhaps, we should describe first. It was a handsome animal of about the me- dium hight, with a round graceful body, an — neck and small head, while the limbs were clean and supple, and the mane and tail long and wavy. In color this animal was re- markably like those known as circus horses, being mainly bay color, with large white spots ees in different places upon its body and m It was gayly caparisoned with gold-mounted saddle aa bidie, and was truly a beauty of the equine race. The rider was fully as striking in appearance asthe horse—a young man of medium stature, well developed in muscular formation with an in- dependent cast of countenance, handsome brown ones and hair—the eyes cool and penetrating in t ae a mustache to match that was w to a point gt either end. In costume he looked the sport to perfection, which he was. The patent leathers upon his eee ee ee we eee feet, the perfectly-fitting suit of light gray | cassimeres, the boiled shirt, collarless and open at the throat, and a whitish slouch hat upon | a sare his head were his dandified make-up. A massive gold chain reached around his neck and returned to his watch-pocket; a jeweled ae wy Fae po held in his fair, effeminate hand; in a belt around his waist were a pair of heavy | revolvers, such as a borderman desires te use when he means business, and a silver- hilted sheath dirk. Straight up the street rode the Sport, whistling a snatch from some popular opera, an ng from one side of the street to the other with the utmost unconcern, as if he were not the ob- served of all observers. ‘‘Oh! so that’s the animal as is going to beat Miss Evelyn’s racer, is it?’ Guthrie demanded, in reply to the half-breed’s last remark, ‘‘Hum! I dare say you are mistaken, Lynx. The runner was never born, that could pass Flying Star.” “T hope so, boss, but reckon you’re wrong. Thet hoss is a cuss, and that man in the saddle is a second cuss.” ‘‘ Bah! he is a band-box popinjay, endeavor- ing toappear at his best on coming toa new town. week hence you'll see him using the pan-and shovel for a living, no doubt. Come along. Ill speedily take the conceit out of that coxcomb, or my name is not Dandy Dell!” CHAPTER II, CINNAMON CHIP’S CHALLENGE. AnD straight down the street strode the self- appointed Mayor of Bummer’s Bend stately tread, and the air of a person who was going to conquer a nation. A few of the idlers followed close at his heels for, having overheard his threat, they had reason to believe that something of an exciting nature would occur. There had not been even a decent dog-fight in the past week, and after such an extremel lengthy pein of stagnation, these ites of the Bend the best reason to ex- that something ‘‘ handsome” was about to done. The **mayor” was noted as a propagator of uarrels and ‘skewrups,’ and never as yet had he failed to ‘‘comb” down his man with com- tive ease. P Bow the street strode he, until he came to the steps of the Girard, which, by the way, was the largest and most imposing structure at the Bend, caine a combined restayrant, lodging- house, saloon, gambling-house and dance-house the latter three occupations occupying first floor. Before the Girard had the elegant Sport of the spotted horse dismounted, and was busy ‘ving his whip to the saddle when the mayor came up. ‘Hello! what have we here?’ Guthrie ex- claimed, we 2 trp the horse and slapping it :pon the thigh, whereupon the animal suddenly ‘aid back its ears and reared its bind feet in an unbecoming manner, ““Whoa! Curse the beast. What’s the mat- ter?”* ‘‘Took out, you! Don’t get into too close proximity to the colt’s feet, or he might be tempted to rear up behind, my friend,” the | perts named Sport remarked, dryly. “ He isn’t particularly fond of strangers.” ‘‘ So I perceive,” Guthrie that an old horseman like °44 = 4 kh A imself’ should be ee 8 ee | Cinnamon Chip. Christopher, if I owned that mule Id learn him better manners. What's your price on the ani- mal, my boy?’ And the mayor’s eyes snapped as he counted one blow, by addressing a man ring Brag supe- rior in personal appearance, as ‘‘ my boy.” “The colt is not for sale,” the Sport replied quietly, as he finished securing his whip, a came up from the street without tying the horse. ‘‘ That little beast is not for sale—at | least, it would take more money than you have got to buy him.” ‘* Humph! Perhaps you are aware how much money I have got? Dandy Dell growled, flam- ing intoa passion. ‘ You’d better be careful how mk wag your tongue around this town, my ristian friend,” ‘Oh! I had, eh?’ the Sport. commmoets ney against an awning-post and surveying Dandy Dell coolly, as he_ puffed leisurely ata freshly-lighted cigar. ‘If so, why so?’ ‘*Pll pretty quick show you, if you give me any of your sass. I’m boss of this town, if you want to know, and when I say butter is salt, it’s | salt, and no one durst contradict it. I- don’t | | allow no impudent coxcomb puppies to come to this town and lip around, not for a cent.” ““Oh! you don’t, eh?” the epart again pee c smile wreathing his lips. ‘If not, why not?” ‘* See here! what do you mean?’ Dandy Dell cried, his increasing as he perceived that his bluster did not have least, apparent effect upon the other, but rather amused him. *' Do you want I should take you by. the collar of your packet and boot you out of the town?” | “If you have had your life insured lately ina good reliable company, it would not ‘be a bad idea to make the Pee being as you seem de- sirous of courting death,” was the calm reply. “If, however, you are desirous of continuing an earthly existence here below, I should con- as advise you to endeavor to mind your own business!” ‘* Mind my own business, will I?’ the Dandy roared, fairly boiling with rage. ‘‘ Not for ou, I won't, you puppy! If you want fight ’m the man for yon, lam. Step out here, an Pll mop the street with you until you won't be worth a cent a pound for old bones.” “Thank you for your kind offer, my royal duke, but as I haven’t had my breakf yet, I am not in a proper condition for mortal com- bat. If you wait till Ihave digested my: daily bread, you may count on me. [ll be down to the races—come and see me, there, and I am yours truly.” And with a cool laugh the Sport waved his hand, and entered the Girard. With an oath Guthrie was about to follow him, but the half-breed caught him by the arm, and pulled him back. “Stop!” he commanded, in a low tone, * It won’t pay you to provoke a quarrel with that fellow. He is more than your equal with any weapon you can name, and you would surely get the worst of it. Let him go—there are other ways to deal with bim, more surely.” ‘‘How do you mean?” the general’s fiery nephew demanded. ‘ ‘Never mind, just now,” the half-breed re- plied, significantly. ‘Wait till the races begin —then you can show him your heels.” The dandy-bully growlingly suffered himself to be pulled away by the half-breed, although it was much against his will. The coolstranger was the first man in the town of Bummer’s Bend, who had ever ‘‘sassed” him and lived to tell it, and he was enraged. In the meantime the spectators were gathered in crowds at the scene of the coming races, an preparations were nearing completion. _ arpenters had erected a temporary judge’s stand beside the track; also another similar stand upon a larger scale, for the accommoda tion of General Howard’s party, which con- sisted of the general, in person—a portly, gray- haired and bearded gentleman of perhaps five and sixty years, witha pleasant countenance and a genial bearing that could but impress one in his favor; his stately daughter Evelyn, yas rising one and twenty, and the acknow- edged belle of the town and the town’s society ; Sir Ashley Crawford, an English tourist, whe was the general’s guest, and several of the Mo ag ” ladies and gentlemen of Bummer’s nd, The judges’ stgnd. contained three horse ex- ney, Dobleau, and Watson. At one o’clock the call-bell rung, the course was cleared of people, and a dozen horses gal- owled, chagrined , loped down before the judge’s stand, each mounted hy a rider, Among the most con- Srunwy we wes | -, aa Wirsec - ee + we Se -_—_——-- —— wee ee a. some bay mare, which was Erelyn Mowari’s noted racer, Flying Star. A beautiful specimen of the equine race the bay certainly was, and fully as proud appear- ing as the cold haughty mistress who sat upon the stand with a confident smile upon her face. “Order!” yelled stalwart Joe ey, from the judges’ stand. ‘The race to-day will be for a purse of twelve thousand do , thare being twelve entries. The winner will reveive seven thousand dollars, the second in the race three thousand, and the third two thousand dollars. Horses entered for the race are as follows: Fl ng Star, by Miss Evelyn Howard; Nettle, Jr., by Dunk Dalton; Meteor, by Rober" Chilton; Powder Face, by Wild Bill Mario Rocket, by Dave Morris; Slipper, by Mrs Mackey ; Blue Bell, by James Thurman; Firebug, xs White Face, the ce chief; Lightfoot, by old Jeff Potter; Little Lightning, by t Calton: Shoo Fly, by Le Vere; and Circus, by Rosebud Rob—twelve in all. The by-laws of the course to govern the race!” ‘* T object to the last horse mentioned!” Dandy Dell cried, fiercely. ‘‘ Rosebud Rob is a for- eigner, and his horse is a vicious animal, unfit to ene among good racers. I motion that he be ruled out.” _ “Ay! rule out the tted animal, judge!” cried the clear voice of Evelyn Howard. “ Do not let him race.”’ yams ma’am, but I can’t oblige ye,” Red- ney replied. ‘Rosebud Rob planked his thou- sand, and I reckon he’sa right to goit fer keeps.” “Ty object. He is not a citizen, and we don’t allow none but citizens to compete!” the gen- eral’s daughter replied, angrily. ‘‘Give ‘he man, Rosebud Rob, as you call him, back nis money, and rule him out!” ‘“ Excuse me, ma’am!” the stran rising in his stirrups, and ra pres « ‘*but 1 do not choose to receive the a back, nor to withdraw from the race. J nowledge that I am nota citizen of your esti- mable town, but I trust that I shall become such, and believe I have a perfect right to race my horse, if I choose to risk my cash P ‘Hurrah! that’s ther kind o’ oo fer ye!” cried a clear, cool voice, and into the ring rode the eccentric girl dandy, who had lately ar. Sport said, ng his hat, rived in ‘the ‘I say, give every hog a sup at ther swil), and don’t give it all ter one bloated haristocretic pig. The galoot with ther spotted cayuse, has got as much right ter take a hand as’ ants ore else, and here I am, Cinnamon Chip, right down from the roaring regions of Montana, ney will bet high ther spotted nag takes ther po All eyes were turned upon the strange Gir\ Sport, who sat coolly upon her horse, with he: hat cocked upon one side of her head, and a cigar between her fingers, as independent and saucy looking as an arab from the streets of the metropolis, No “slouch” of a character was she, evi. dently, nor was she afraid to express he opinion of matters in the presence of any crowd, “Who are you, that you lip in when you ain’t concerned?’ Dandy Dell cried, savagely not at all relishing the interference, for he had set his heart upon ruling Rosebud Rob out of the race, “Who am I?’ Cinnamon Chip replied saucily... ‘‘ Well, sir, my royal charmer, I just gave you m handlg-Cingimatie Chip, at youn service, guide, sport, hunter, trapper, miner and hoss-jockey, all in one, ye parseeve. An Pll allow thet that ’ar Sport wi’ ther waxeaw mustache and the spotted hoss, hes got a perfecy right ter take a hand in this race, an’ I'll goany aloot ten to one thet he rakes the board, too— y a large soe eal “The spotted horse shall not race!” Miss Howard cried, eee ‘Tf it is allowed ia the race, I will withdraw my horse,” ““Can’t help it, ma’am!” Redney replied. ‘ Business is bizmess, and as we judges own this course, I opine we've the right to do as we please. You can withdraw your horse, but not your deposit!” “This is a shame—an outrage!” the beau y of the fort cried, her face very red with mortifi- aber her will should be opposed. ‘It is And the ladies in her box of course felt ccm- lied to echo her sentiments, as they belong cd om her set. “It is precisely right, Evelyn!” old General Howard said, in his blunt but honest vay. “You are a little too fast, my dear—this is « free-to-al! race, and the gentleman on the sotted anhre} bee oqral richts with the rest.” Gomicaoo SS Gom