Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 217 — page 3: what you’re looking at

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

oa = Oe ee ee 4 .~ i “Tsay, young feller, w’at’ll ye take fer ther dorg? J umpin’ Jehosephat, thet ar’ ther cutest eanine Ll evyer sot eyes on, ef I war raised ina dorg country. Speak up, pilgrim! Ef ye want ter sell thet dorg, ali ye’ve gt ter dew is name a reasovable number o’ shinin’ crowns, an’ they’re yours sure’s my handle’s Old Somersault, ther great consolidated two-footed caravan an menagery o’ ther Nor’ west!” ‘‘The dog is not for sale—not for all the money in Durange,” Gipsy Jack: replied, him- self turning a complete somersauit on back of his horse, and then pausing to take a squint at the purchaser-that-would-be. ‘*I and my dorg aire inseparalle, stranger, aw’ ye might as well try to kee)» us apart, as ter kecp potato bugs off’n vines.” Old Somersault, whom he was addressing, was the very essence of a rough, time-worn, weather-beaten old mountain man, whose whole life bad probably been mostly made up with scrimmages with wild animals and their equally savage neighbors, the red-skins. He was rather short in stature, but wiry and supple, a man vot easy to bandle, except faken ata disadvantage. e was also possessed of a keen, shrewd eye, and his face, for a most part covered with a mixed Lrown and gray stubble of beard, was honest and good-natured in ex- pression. There was a waggish contortion about the mouth, however, that proclaimed him one of those mortals who are never so happy as when spinning some gigantic and improbable yarn. He was attired from head to foot in tight-fit- ting buckskin, with a belt around his waist con- taining a couple of revolvers which looked as ay they bad served a Jong war campaign; and the same could be said of the rifle which he leaned upoi—a long, heavy instrument, un- lated and unpretentious, and yet, in his estima- ion, probably worth a half-dozen of the latter- day ‘‘new-fangled shutin’ masheens,” as he would bave expressed it mildly. “I allow thet a hundred Williams w’a'd tick}e ye, eh?” he said, with a broad grim. ‘No, nor a thousand of them,” Gipsy Jack replied, ‘*The dog can’’ be bought at no rice. At this instant aman was passing by, carrying a framed paper banner mounted upon a pole, The bamer contained the acvertisement of some loval jst which was to come off, and this means was adopted for heralding the news to those whose feet yearned for Terpsichorean exercise, The dog, Skip, however, seemed to construe the banuer tor a different use, and making a tpring from the top of bis horse’s back, he went through it like a rocket, and landed upon the veranda of tie Old Bourbon. The half-breed delegate who had been carry- ‘ing the banner uttered a savage prowl, and - the bandiest situated claims on the whipped a pis ol from his belt, but, ere he could use it ae Ja: k hud leap. d to the ground and ized him y the collar. **Hold on, my friend!” he said,in bis calm yet impressive way. ‘‘That’ar dor belongs to me, and if you don’t want your neck broke, ou’ll do well to Jet him alone.” ** li shoot him; be spoil banner!” the offended earrier growled. ** No, you won’t kill him either!” Jack warned, and by a sudden effort, he raised the strapping fellow and hurled him as neatly over his bead as though be bad been a mere stick. Then, bounding upon the tack of his hand- some horse, he uttered a wild lauch, and casted back down the street toward tie flacs, followed by his two oxtraordiuary companions. Claim No, 60 was situated about in ¢he center of the fluts, and consisted of a square acre of surface zround, oue side cf which bordered ° upon a nurrow, deep creek, which flowed silent- ly across ihe goiden botiom-lands, The main trail from the town «cross the flats also ran on the opposite side of the creek, cory one of ats. That aft rnoon, for tho first time in the his- tory of the wining excitement, a tent was reared upon this tract, and Gipsy Jack and pards took possession, as ti.ey had threatened. Posted upon a tree on the frone side of the claim was 4 placard printed in a neat hand, which vouchsafed the following warning: “NOTICE! “Your humble servant, Gipsy Jack, having taken possession of his own lawful heriiage, bugs leave to announc: that he proposss to dig here as long as ‘pay-dirt’ is found. Any faloot having aught to eeehoee to the contrary will not be dealt with ac- cording to Scripture, but will get just the measure hig conduct merits, Our motto is: ‘Watch your neighbor—mind your biz—hang to yer rights!’ Take notice: Sure death to old maids, speculators and missionaries, Yours, etc., ‘* Gipsy JACK AND Panps,” The notice received due attention from nearly every passer-by, but nune ventured to invade the dG: muins of the eccentric stranger far enough to make Lis acquaintance, it was evidently not his forte to work, for he mounted a hammock upon some poles outside of ihe tent and deposited bis anatomy therein, en- paging in a smoke, while Shy Sam did the work. ‘hus the first day of bis arrival passed, and no attempt was mace to eject him from the claim. If it was John Metcalf’s intention to have him vacate, he bad evidently taken no steps in the matter as yet. When night came, or, rather, early dusk, Gip- sy Jack sauntered up into the village, accom- paiied by bis dog, leaving Shy Sam behind to ook after things at the claim. As he passed along up the main street, he at- tracted more than ordinary notice, as did Skip, whose feats earlier in the day had won for him a wide repute. The first man Gipsy Jack met, to speak to, was Old Somerrault, and it was the latter who blockaded his path, end spoke first. ‘* Good-evenin’,” he sai ‘‘lallow ye won't offend et I remark thet l’ve took an interest in ye, pard, «jl on account o’ your dorg.” ‘Certainly not,” the young man from Jim- town replied. ‘* Not unfrequently I make ac- quaintance because of my dog.” ‘*He’s a wonderful dorg. I ken skeercely turn a better somersault myself than he, ef I do say et. Yer name’s Gipsy Jack?” ‘ Yes. ” ‘“* And ye are a Gipsy?” ** Not at all. The handle originated, probably, from my wild, roving ye than ‘**Oh! thet’s it, hey? Waal, I reckon ef you’re as gud as ye look, ye’ll come right side ¥ f with care, tho’ I d n’t mind tellin’ ye thet ye’d better keep your eyes peeled.” <i wT and why? Is there danger threatening me ‘Tallow tharis. Ef ye’vea minnute, we'll squat on ther log, over yonder, an’ I’ll put ye on to something ye mebbe don’t know.” “Very good. am always ready to hear opens of interest.” hey accordingly seated themselves upon a fallen log, in the shade of a cluster of trees, a few yaros back from the street, and then the old scout proceeded :— ** Ye see, thet aire claim ye’ve squatted on, is likely ter git ye inter trouble, case et ar’n’t the most desirable piece o’ property, imaginable. Thar’s a score 0’ galoots wot claim et, an’, then thar’s John Metcalf, who sez he’s bought et, an’ so et goes,” “That don’t alarm me in the least, my friend,” Gipsy Jack replied, with a good-na- tured laugh. ‘I reckon ‘ion is several points, and then I can prove that Mexican Mag, the witch, willed it to me, on ber death-bed.” ‘*The old skivflint’s dead, hey?” ‘Yes. Got killed by falling over a precipice, up North. 1 ran across ber, just as she was go- ing off the handje, and she ceclared me her heir to this piece of property.” ‘““Humph! I don’t calkyiate ye’re in much luck, tho’ et aire mighty temptin’, thet claim 30. But, jest salt away ther testimony of Old Somersauit—y e’ve a pile o’ fightin’ ter do, afore ye get thru. An’ ther worst o’ et is, ye’ve got awoman ter contend wi’. Consarn my old wenagerie ef | wouldn’t ruther swaller an an- nerconda, an’ use an clerfant’s trunk fer a tooth- pick, than tuck ag’in’ & woman.” ‘‘Humpbh! I never have any trouble with them. Who is this one you refer to?” “A hummei! a reg’lar ourang-outang dare- devil, wi’ no more regard fer law an’ persons than the wildest cat thet ever held a jubilee in tber Arcadian forests o’ yore!” Somersault said, impressively. * Ye’ve heerd tell about Capt. Crack-Shot, the girl outlaw, hev’n’t ye?” ** No, { can’t say that [ bave!” “Waal, that’s queer. She’s well known, hyarabouts, you bet, an’ she ain’t a bit afeard ter make herself acquainted, nuther, when she thinks she can get any ducats. She’s old Mexi- can Mag’s adopted daughter, they say—least- how, she claims that No. 80 is hern, an’ warns every galoot to keep off from it, who don’t want to git shipped into the future!” ‘*Dangerous, eh?” Gipsy Jack commented idlv. ‘*Oul well, I dare say she won't scare mea great deal. As to the man, Metcalf, pro- bably he and thes» other chaps you speak of, will consolidate, eh?” Captain Crack-Shot, the Girl Brigrand. Ss 7 ‘* Like as not. They are roughs, every one off ‘em, who have at times loaned Mexican Mag money to gamble with, and now demand an in- terest in tne property she’s left.” ‘** Well, let ’em come. If they want to dis- pute my rights, Pll hear their argument. Aste the future of claim 380, it?s mine—and if I don’t have it, no one clse will ever get rich off from et. Just remember that, in the face of future circumstances, will you?” Later that evening Gipsy Jack and his deg entered a gambling; palace on the main street, and sauutered about, watching the various gaines in progress. it was evicently not his purpose to play, but he was all the same possessed of a knowledge of the business, as was manifest by a faint smile when he would see a man make a bad “ lay.” The burly ruffian who had entered the offfce of John Metcalf earlier that same afternoon, was engaged in a game of poker with a profes- sional sharp, and made a mismove which lost. , him the game, Looking up, he caught sight of the stranger, and noted the faint smile upon his face, ‘* Hello! what you grinnin’ at?” he growled with an oath. ‘‘Mebbe ye think you could ry) played ther game better f” ‘' Presumedly, ves, were I a gambler, which I am not,” was the quiet answer. “My dog here, however, I dare say, could learn you some- thing about cards.” ‘ ‘Hurrah! Let’s see him!” cried a number, “Put up your dorg, stranger!” ‘If you are anxious mt up the money, all ight,” Jack replied. ‘“T’liset my dog on the table, and you can let your best card monte man flip out his pasteboards, and my dorg will pick out the winning card every time” ‘* Here’s Black Bill—he’s your man,” the pro- prietor of the place said, indicating the rofflun who had addressed our man from Jimtown, “ Bill, he takes the eake at throwing the kecrds ar’, “J allow [kin do et!” Bill declared, ‘an’ ro livin’ dorg kin beat me. Hyar’s a pile o’ ten golden eagles, an’ ther ace o’ spades wits «mm. Heer 1 have ther ace ©’ spades, three-cpot of diamonds, and two-spot of clubs!” and #s he spoke he gave them a dextrour flip upon the table, with the backs up. ‘Now, I'll bet tler ten eagles hyar, agin’ ther same amount, thet ther ain’t no dorg living who kin turn up ther ace o’ spades ther first time trying!” “Tl take the bet; make it a thousand if you like!” Gipsy Jack said, teking a large roll cf greenbacks from his pocket, with a laugh CHAPTER II. A GENERAL ‘crrcus.” THERE was excitement within the Old Bour- bon as the man from Jimtown spokea single word to bis canine comyenion, and the taga- cious animal leaped upon the table, **Good boy, Skip!” Gipsy Jack said, patting the dog on its tack, “You're always on fime, Now, these citizens around here have got an idea that you can’t play moute as well as they, end in order to convince them to the contrary, } want to blirdfold you, and then want you tu place your paw on the one of the three cards you see lying here which is in your estimation the ace of spades. Do you think the deaker yonder has any tricks bidden up bis sleeve?” Skip stook his head in the negative, ax.t wagged his tail, whereat the crowd faugh< |. heartily. Bets were made rapidly on the result, ard large sums were wagered against the snecess of the dog. Allowing the bystanders plenty of time te make their bets, Jack bound a handkerchief in front of bis cog’s eyes, and then turned to tho man, Black Bill, with whom he had bei ~ “Look sharp now, men!” he said, “Bo sure there’s no trickery, before I proceed, or there'll be a growl afterwards. Is it all square now?” “It *pears so,” Black Bill growled, “Go ahead. Et I lose, it won’t be the first time in my life.” ‘Allright. Skip, get ready now, Take a topograpbical claryvoyant survey of the cor .- try, and at the same time pick up the ace: ? spades,” The blindfolded dog obeyed by seleeting c.g Gom (E “S boo