Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 219 — page 11: what you’re looking at

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

upon yourself without cause. I am ready to meet foes, without involving friends.” ‘*T,ook here, my dear sir, don’t force me to in- sult you; for i assure you that I have held you in highest esteem, ever since I saw your metal. This is the way I look at the matter: the honor cf gentlemen is assailed; we, as gentlemen, are equally bound to defend it; I never shirked a responsibility in honor in my life. There you have it in a nutshell. That’s the reason this thing must go through, even if [ have to insult you to bring it on.” Iron Despard extended his hand, cordially. “There shall be nothing but friendship be- tween us,” he said. ‘I wish that I could dis- suade you from this; but I think that I appre- ciate your feelings, which make it impossible. You will believe me when I say that, from the bottom of my heart, I hope you will win.” “ldo. But I trust to your honor to play your best against me, as I shall against you,” ‘** Certainly.” Then the strange contestants, the warmest friends, yet each playing against the other’s life, placed themselves at a table, where they were surrounded by absorbed lookers-on, many of whom instantly made side-bets. The deal fell to Lron Despard—a matter of no advantage in the game they were playing. After discarding and refilling their hands, the Kid showed a small pair. “Thar!” growled one of the ‘*That’s fur playing a vampire. booked !” But, upon being shown, Iron Despard’s hand contained nothing. The Kid had won the first hand. ‘** [congratulate you,” said the gambler prince. ‘Your chance is now much better than mine.” ‘*A game’s never played out until the last card’s turned,” replied the Kid. In the second hand Iron Despard showed three of a kind, the Kid two pairs. Now the interest centered in the last hand. The showing of the cards decided a life! The Kid discarded two cards, Lron Despard our. y A murmur of delight ran through the crowd. ‘*By Judas! we'll fotch the critur’, vampire or no vampire! Thar’s three of a kind on our side, fur rocks!” Iron Despard did not look at the four cards he drew. Nothing was to be gained by it. He would know their value soon enough. The Kid displayed his cards. A shout—a cheer—a yell! ** A full hand, by all that’s lovely!” ‘*Three aces and two kings! Hooray! devil himself can’t beat that!” **Good boy, Gordon! The Kid forever!” **T can’t say I’m sorry for you,” said the Kid. ‘*Tt gives you the gentlemanly opening that I came here to offer you—unless, indeed, you can make a better showing.” ‘‘ Tt isn’t probable,” said Iron Despard with no show of emotion. Then, with a careless hand, he proceeded to toss his cards over one at a time, The deuce of hearts came first. ‘““ A bad lead-off,” commented one of the on- lookers. The deuce of clubs. ‘* Blast his little pair!” The deuce of diamonds, ‘Thunder an’ lightnin’! he’s got three ef a kind!” ‘* But he’ll want ’em, an’ more.” The ace of hearts. ‘“Hooray! Aces no more!” ‘¢ That settles her!” ‘¢‘ Johnny, fork over my leetle ounce!” There was a confused Babel of comments. But suddenly a deathlike hush fell. The last card turned by Iron Despard was the deuce of spades ! It was the voice of the Kid that broke the stillness. ‘‘Now I am sorry for you,” he said, tossing away his cigarette. ‘‘Your four of a kind plays the very deuce with my full hand.” And he laughed lightly. But a groan of remonstrance went through the crowd. Iron Despard rose and held up his hand to silence the crowd, ‘‘Men of Hell Hole,” he said, ‘I want you to ‘unite with me in absolving this brave gentleman from the stipulations of this unnatural game. You have none against him, nor bave I. If any one is to die, I am the man,” Although the crowd manifested their con- currence jn this, the Kid demurred, “Gentlemen, you don’t know me. I played spectators. The Kid’s The SS — —— esses ‘every sentiment of fair play, Despard, the Duelist. for a certain stake. I lost. I never back out of anything that is square.” {xpostulations were vain, though many of the Kid’s friends joined with Lron Despard in a direct appeal. ‘‘A gentleman never goes back on his word,” was his ultimatum. ‘“ It’s the easiest way to step down and out, This little tube placed between the teeth—thus. A touch on the trigger —thus—” Crack! A convulsive shudder—the pistol fell from his nerveless grasp—his head sunk upon his breast. Propped in the angle formed by the back of his chair and the wall, the Kid sat, a corpse! A moment of deathlike stillness. Then began a ae aes which swelled to a clamor, a shout, a yell: ‘** Down with the vampire !” CHAPTER X. THE FOURTH DUEL. But there came an interruption, A stento- rian voice shouted: ‘‘ Hold on, boys! Give me a show.” No-likee-John interposed between [ron Des- pard and the enraged mob. When he could make himself heard, he ex- plained his "ag Ose. “Ten-strike Tom tried this fancy sharp on pistols, an’ got es Bullwhacker Ben crossed knives with him, an’ got one tucked up under his jacket. The Kid pitted his luck ag’in’ the critter, an’ he got scooped. Now I want to tackle him on c’ar muscle! Ef he kin git away with me, I want to know it.” Here was a chance for more ‘‘ fun,” and of a novel sort. Feeling sure of their man in the end, the crowd was willing to defer their final disposition so as to make room for any little ** side mills.” Iron Despard smiled sardonically. ‘* Tt seems that I shall never earn my citizen- ship in this town, until I kill you all off, one by one,” he said. ‘*That’s so, boss,” was the hearty indorsement of Moll Pritchard’s Right Bower. ‘* What conditions do you propose?” asked the gambler of No-likee John. ‘*Nature’s weapons, and no rules to bother. Ketch as ketch kin. Ef you throw me, jump on me an’ vammer the devil out of me, an’ i’ll do the same fur you.” “To the death?’ asked Iron Despard. Waal,” replied No-likee-John, ‘‘ when I git through with ye, I reckon the boys won’t have no work on their hands—'less it is to bury ye.” ‘‘Gentlemen,” said Iron Despard, turning to the crowd, “after I have killed a dozen or so of the best men you can bring on, don’t you think that you ought to let up ou me?” It was an ugly question. In spite of their prejudice they could but see its justice. But the thought that he might bea vampire silenced Only scowling looks answered him. ‘* Very well,” he replied, ‘‘ we'll discuss that after I have got this gentleman out of bis worry. Meanwhile, as I may be killed, I pre- sume there will be no objection to my taking leave of my wife.” He strode toward the door of the gambling- hall, and though no one cared to interpose di- eins more than one drew a revolver and stood in readiness to frustrate any attempt to escape. Not appearing to notice them, Iron Despard stepped up to the Queen of the Green Cloth, who all this while had retained her position waiting for patrons, and after whispering a few words, kissed her on the lips. “Now, gentlemen!” he said, briskly; and all passed into the street. Having thrown his hat on the ground and drawn his shirt over his head, No-likee-John was ready for the contest. His great breadth of shoulders, depth of chest and length of arm and the remarkable muscular development o the man, now showed to advantage. _ ** Be the powers!” declared Foxy. ‘* Wanst in his grip, and he has the hug of a grizzly in the two arms av ’um!” 22 te: Iron Despard did not remove his shirt, though every man in the crowd waited eagerly to com- pare him with his antagonist. - It was understood that this fight was to be hampered by none of the rules of the prize- ring. Aside from the stipulation that no wea- pon or missile of any kind was to be used, the contestants were perfectly free. As they stood face to face, lron Despard was the taller, No-likee-John the heavier. Fora time they mioved cautiously abeut each other, watching their chance. 11 _— J No-likee-John as guardedly retreating, bu gathering himself for a spring. All of a sudden he shot forward like a thun- derbolt, but was met by a buffet which sent him reeling back. Iron Despard did not seem to care about fol- lowing up his advantage. He smiled disdain- fully at the groan of hatred that went up from the crowd. No. likee-John advanced again, cool, but with a look of murderous determination in his eyes. ‘Clinch him, Jack. He'll knock the stuffin’ out o’ ye, on the spar,” was the advice of an anti-Despard man. This suggestion was needless, since No-likee- Jobn had thought of no other plan of fighting from the start. He thought he saw his chance when Iron Despard dropped his guard. A rush; and he grasped the empty air. : Instead of striking him as before, [Tron Des- pard suddenly sunk, as if into the ground, But the next instant No-likee John felt a head thrust between bis legs, and himself lifted and hurled through the air. Turning’ a complete somerset, he struck the ground on his back and shoulders, with a con- cussion that knccked the breath out of his body. The crowd surged and yelled, glaring at Iron Despard vengefully, Again the gambler prince disdained to im prove a just advantage, but stood with folded arms, waiting for his foe to ‘‘ toe the scratch’ oncé more. ‘‘Gentlemen,” he said, ‘‘ you see that thic man is no match for me—” “Thrue fur the divil! Sure, nothing noman will stand agen ’um!” declared an Irishman. ‘‘I have no desire to take his life,” pursued Iron Despard, not heeding the muttered inter- ruption. ‘‘I therefore propose that we throw up this contest, before any more damage is done.” But No-likee-John was himself the first to op- ose this, not waiting for an expression of opin ion from his backers. ‘‘ Never!” he cried, grinding the word be tween histeeth. ‘‘ Once let me git my paws on -ye, an’ Vil show yea trick!” lron Despard knew that herein lay his danger, Those bony fingers were like clamps of steel. No-likee-John advanced champing his teeth and working his hands, as if they itched te cluteh and tear his adversary. Now the fight was venient in deadly earnest, In eluding the clutch of bis foe Iron Despard was as light on his feet as a panther. Now and then, as opportunity offered, be stood his ground, and delivered a lightning blow straight from the shoulder, The crowd was wild with excitement, many ot No-likee-John’s friends showing a disposition to aid him by getting in the way of Iron Despard’s: movements, The gambler prince saw that the fight must be brought to a close very soon, if he did not wish to become the victim of foul play. The thought of the unfairness to which he had been subjected from the very start, and that, even if he vanquished his foe, he was ta be mobbed, maddened him, and brought that fierceness which had won him the title of the . Demon Duelist. Two swift blows hurled No-likee-John back, dazed. Then Iron Despard rushed upon him, leaped into the air, and shot out both feet, striking him in the breast and dashing him to the ground with tremendous violence. ‘“ Good God! he’s killed him!” shouted one of the crowd. But now that strange mania of rage was upon Iron Despard in full force, ie He sprung upon his fallen adversary, seizing: him by the feet. Then, by the exertion o Herculean strength of which his build gave no promise, he began to whirl round and round with him, the disproportionate weight ef his victim being so great that his head swept round its circuits not more than a foot from the ground. ; The strangeness of this unex rected move left the crowd inactive with wonder. They made way before the madman, as he swept from the middle of the street toward the sidewalk, The next instant a universal wail of horror went up, as No-likee-John’s head was dashed against a hitching post. In one of those unreasoning panics which seize a crowd, those nearest the spot rushed away in every direction. The space to the door of his saloon was thus left free. Iron Despard availed himself of this eppertunity; EGomichbooks co Presently Iron Despard began to advan |