Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 186 — page 14: what you’re looking at

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

i4 _— ae eo + + ee - eee fact, she had a supreme contempt—a hatred, for all the miners. She knew she was different from them and that the enets whites, be they ever so ragged, miserable and poor, looked down upon her because she had the blood of a degraded race in her veins, Indian she believed, negro sometimes she feared. Sbe could not trust her father to tell her the truth; he was such an inveterate liar, and had told her so many different stories concerning her birth and her mother, that, at last, she had becca constrained to believe that he had forgotten the truth about her mother if he ever knew. First he had claimed that she was the daughter of a Seminole princess, one of the most beautiful women that mortal man had ever set eyes on; then, a year or so alter, for- getting the first story, be had asserted that her mother was a French crevile from New Orleans, and that there wasn’t a drop of Indian blood in her veins; the next story, a year or so later, was that she was the child of a beautiful Span- ish girl who had been wrecked on the shores of his plantation, and that, at the risk of his life, he had rescued her from the waves and in time had wedded. A year or two after he had re- turned to the Indian princess story again: but, one day, when he had been drinking freely, en- raged at something that she had done, he be- stowed a vile name upon her, and with devilish malice told her that she was nothing but the awn of a mulatto slave who had been one of the house servants on his plantation in Florida, and that, if she didn’t behave herself, he would strip the clothes from her back and thrust her out naked into the world. Whether the blood within her veins were Spanish, French, Indian or negro it was hot and fiery enough. She had caught the old man by the throat, enraged to madness by the taunt, and if she had had a weapon would have slain him, and he, though big and powerful, for the strength that still dwelt in bis gaunt frame was not mean, considering his years, found that he was no match for the furious girl. Appeased by the tempest that hisangry words had raised, he attempted to calm the tigress. He protested by all that was holy that it was not the truth; he was drunk and she must not mind what he said. And so,in time, he paci- fied her, but the taunt sunk deep into her soul, and she never forgot the cruel slur. Hence, it was little wonder, when the rough miners in their uncouth and elephantine wa came a-courting, that she received their _ ‘vances in the worst possible spirit, and replied to civil words with biting angry speeches. The iron wasin her soul; she fancied that all the world, save one, believed that she came of base and iznoble blood, Ev.n Sbannon’s civility made her look as- _kauce. Perhaps it was this feeling that led her to lend herself a compliant tool to her father’s trickery. If the world despised her she return- ed the compliment, and so the account was even. _ The two entered the store together. As it happened there were no customers present; so they had a clear field. The young man was alone in the store, and old Jake greeted him with the hearty warmth that mean men and rascals generally use in this life as a cloak to conceal their true nature. ‘‘My girl has got the dust and the accounts for the month, Mr. Shannon,” he said, after the first salutations were over. ‘It has been a rather poor month, but she will explain about that, while I go out on a little business that I have to attend to,” and having thus excused ‘himself the old scamp went as far as the steps that led into the street, and standing there in the doorway pretended to be looking up and down the street for some one, but in reality he was listening to see how Shannon would receive the account, because he was a little afraid that he had overdone the thing this time and that the young man might object. ‘The month has not been a very good one, Mr. Shannon,” the girl repeated, ‘‘and I have not brought you as much money as you have a right to expect.” ‘Oh, thatis all right; Iam satisfied,” he said, sweeping the bag of dustinto the money drawer without even taking the trouble to weigh it. ‘Tf you hadn’t brought anything I should still be just as glad to see you.” - “What a jackass [ was to pay anything at all!” the old man muttered between his teeth, as this observation reached him, and now, be- ing perfectly satisfied that everything was all right, and that, as usual, Iris had succeeded in getting the amount passed, he went down the steps and headed straight for the den of Des- mond, This was exactly what the girl wanted, ' ee - ———_————— Cool Desmond. for she wished Sbannon. CHAPTER XVIII. A JEALOUS WOMAN, Tue girl had her eyes upon the old man; she understood well enough that he was loitering at the door for the purpose of seeing how young Sbannon would receive the small payment, anc she did not fail to see the old fellow take him- self off when he found that everything was satisfactory. This afforded her the chance that she wanted, for she had an object in consenting so readily to do the bidding ot her father. A two-fold object in fact had she, and the moment old Jake disappeared she proceeded to accomplish the mission upon which she had come. She had heard the gossip in regard to Des- mond paying attention to the beautiful girl who had so unexpectedly made her appearance in the camp and desired to know if there was any truth in what she had heard. Thenshe was weary of being used as a catspaw by her father and had made up her mind, if the young store- keeper was favoring her father on her account, then the quicker he knew that he was not gain- ing favor in her eyes by so doing the better. Half-savage though she was by nature, yet she scorned deception. ‘‘ Mr, Shannon, do you know anything about these strangers who have lately come into the valley?” she began, ‘* this brother and sister?” ‘‘Ob, yes,” Shannon replied, not at all sur- prised, since the “‘ pilgrims” had not yet ceased to excite general interest. “This girl is very beautiful, I believe,” and there was a glint of fire in the dark eyes, al- though the tone was careless enough. ‘6 Yes, she certainly is a very handsome girl.” ‘“‘And they say that Mr. Desmond is very much taken with her.” Shannon looked a little surprised at this for he had not noticed Desmond’s pursuit of the girl, thougb now that the subject was brought so directly to him, he began to see that Des- mond had busied himself considerably in regard to the strangers, and as he reflected upon the matter a grave look came over his face. If he had any notion of the girl, although even to himself he had never admitted that be had, Cool Desmond, the Desperado, was by all odds his most formidable rival. ‘‘ He is after the girl, is he not?” Iris demand- ed, finding that Shannon hesitated. ‘Do not fear to tell me the truth; I will not repeat it, but if the report is true, let Desmond look out for himself for I will hold him to a bitter reck- oning!” In her anger the girl had spoken more openly than she had intended, and she percelv- ed by the expression upon Shannon’s face that he was amazed. lt wastoo late to retreat, now; so she resolved to confide fully in the young man, trusting to his honor to keep the secret. ‘*] did not intend to speak quite so dig she continued, ‘‘but since my tongue has be- trayed me I hope you will not reveal what I have said to you to any one.” Shannon hastened to assure her that she might rely upon his discretion. ‘* Desmond has no right to even look at any other girl!” she went on, ‘‘and if he dares to play false with me I will make him repent it to the latest day of his life.” ‘‘Tt may not be so,” Shannon remarked, al- though he had a very strong suspicion that the reports were true, now that he came to reflect upon the matter, and remembered how zealous Desmond had been in the affair; and, although the gambler was a man whom he disliked, still he would not utter words to his prejudice. ‘‘T will know before I sleep this night,” she continued, anger blazing hot within her veins; ‘Cand if tiis man dares to trifle with me it will be a sorry hour for him when I call him to an account, although he was twice the desperado that he is.” Aud the girl departed, to find Desmond, hav ing, during the brief interview, given the young store-keeper much matter for thought. ‘“‘By Jove!” be muttered, after the girl had departed, ‘‘she isa regular fire-eater; it is just as well that I didn’t go after her. It is a good deal safer for a man not to have anything to do with such firebrands. Il reckon that Desmond, with all his cool bravado, won’t find it a very easy thing to explain matters to her in the state of mind she is now in.” Shannon was right; the girl had donned the war-paint and sharpened the scalping-knife, metaphorically speaking. From the store she went directly to Des- moud’s saloon. It was too early in the evening for business, so the gambler was lounging in ee tt ETL LAA AT to talk in private with young | the doorway of his “den,” talking with a little grou of men, prominent among whom was old auderdale. : The girl walked directly up to Desmond, never taking the slightest notice of her father. “T want to speak with you a moment; walk this way!” she said, with the air of a tragedy queen. The gambler, though both astonished and dis- gusted, did not dare to refuse. He saw from her manner that she had not come on any pacific mission, and, that if he had refused to go with her, in all probability she would have said her say’to him right in front of his own door, and in utter disregard of who might be listening to her words; so he followed her as she strode off down the street, while those standing around understood what was up, and they opened fire at once upon old Lauderdale. ‘So, bin a-losin’ a heap of yer dust, hey?” one exclaimed, ‘‘an’ the gal is a-goin’ for Des- mond, to gi’n him fits about it? She kinder rules the roost, old man, hey?” The veteran protested that it was no such thing, but ‘‘ jes’ some crazy notion that the gal hus got into her head;”’ but that wouldn’t go down, and the war of words became so hot that at last old Lauderdale was forced to retreat, or else come to a regular battle with his torment- ors. As soon as Desmond got out of ear-shot he commenced to expostulate. ‘‘What is the matter with you, Iris?” he de- manded; ‘‘what has got into you, that you come after me right in the face of the whole camp? Do you want to set everybody to talk- ing? Not that I care two cents about myself, but I shouldn’t think it would be pleasant for you.” She turned on him, fiercely. ‘¢What do I care?” she exclaimed; ‘‘ what do Iecare what anybody in the camp says? You are mine, ain’t you, and the quicker everybody in this valley knows it, the better, perhaps!” Desmond was astonished at this outbreak. ‘¢ Well, you have changed your mind, consider- ably, ina very short time,” he protested. “ WAS only a little while ago you were so mortally afraid that any one should know that we were intimately acquainted, that you wouldn’t let me come near your cabin, yet now you come after me in the presence of the whole town. Are you getting crazy?’ ‘Yes, lam crazy with anger!” ‘‘ And why?” ‘‘Cannot you guess?” ‘‘Tndeed, I cannot, although you take such mad notions into your head that l suppose no one has any right to be astonished at anything you do,” he answered, sullenly. ‘‘Why have you gone after this new girl? Are you not content with the love that I give, or are you tired of me, that you seek a fresh beauty?” her voice trembled with suppressed passion. For a moment Desmond hardly knew what to say; the attack was so suddden, and so entirely unexpected, that it fairly staggered him. ‘‘Don’t take time to hatch up a lie, but speak the truth, and answer insane + she contin- ued, perceiving that he hesitated. ‘Upon my word, Iris, you wrong me in this matter,” he replied, earnestly. ‘I’ve a certain game to play, and, in order to win—and the stake isa big one—I have to keep on friendly terms with this new girl.” ‘The stake is the girl herself; I understand yous game, well enough!” she persisted, bitter- y, ‘‘ but you will not win, no matter bow care- fully you plan, if I have strength enough to handle a knife or pull a trigger!” ‘‘Don’t be a fool, Iris; but listen to me. I will tell you all about it, since you must know,” but, before he proceeded to explain, he casta careful glance around, soas to be sure no one was near enough to overhear his words. ‘‘ You have heard the story of the massacre of Cone- $a? COT es,” ‘‘ Well, by rights, there must be a large sum of gold-dust concealed about the old mines,’ somewhere. Old Conejos had it, and it has never been discovered, so it must still be there, and it is in search of the dust that these pil- grims came into this valley. This brother and sister know the secret, and that hidden gold-dust is exactly what I am after, and that is the reason why I am trying to get on friendly terms with the girl, for ae bound to have that dust, and if I once get hold of it, my beauty, you and Il will speedily get out of this.” ‘‘ And you will take me with you?” the girl asked, doubtfully. ‘‘Why, of course! Hav’n’t I given you my = cOmicboo <S (Ee)