Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 221 — page 4: what you’re looking at

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

: - bi ; { . ; . -b ssie replied assured himself of the thickness of my skull be- fore venturing rashly.” ‘Yas, them’s words of great poetry without rhythm,” Shakespeare declared. For instanee: “* Hyar is Sugar-Coated Sam, Every inch o’ him a man, Whose pate is really harder’n a brick; Thar’s naught wull lay him flat Unless a heavy spat Admin'ster’d by an ugly jack-mule kick.’ “Thar, [ reckon that’s true, too. And yet, friend an’ pilgrim, it will behoove thyself to lovk on either side fer snags.” ‘*] shall certainly be more on guard,” Sam ot. ie ‘he next day Shakespeare devoted most of his paper to the news of the attempted assassi- wation of Sugar-Coated Sam, and wound up by offering a hundred dollars reward for the cap- ware of the old reprobate, aud added the fol towing versification: ***A man of note Is Suger-Coat— A man of muscle, Sam; Got hit on ther head But never bled— Is lively as a clam.’ ”’ _And such was the case, for Sam soon felt all Tight again. _ That day, while the town was in its usual bustle of excitement, a stage arrived and un- loaded among other passengers a tall, stern man with iron gray hair and beard, accompanied by @ woman and child—a woman of perhaps twenty years of age, and not strikingly hand- some, They and registered, after which the lady was shown to a room, ahd the man who had inscribed him- self as Commodore Burt upon the register of McDuff’s Grand Central, strolled out about ‘the town. In the course of his rambles, he came abruptly to a halt in front of Miss Bessie Burt’s tent, where that young lady was sitting engaged in S0ine sewing while she archly conversed with Suyar-Coated Sam, who had strolled over ‘ to at once went to McDuff’s boarding-house et his washing,” which was a good excuse, al- 0 ugh he privately presumed that she would not be likely to have the work done for several duys. The commodore was seen by the young jlaundress almost the same instant he saw her, and it was evident there was a recognition, for Miss Bessie uttered a startled exclamation and shrunk away. ‘* Ah! what is the matter? Do you know this man, or is he some enemy?” Sam said, stepping ‘loser to her, as if willing to actas her protector. ‘*IT am no loafer, sir, and presumedly | know this girl!” the commodore replied, haughtily. “If you will kindly take yourself off, I will @vuverse with Miss Bessie.” ‘No, no! don’t leave me in that monster’s @ mnipany!’’ Bessie cried, clinging to Sam’s arm. * tie is a bad, wicked man, and I fear, loathe sud despise him.” **Then Pll look well to it that he don’t harm }o4 when Iam nigh,” Sam said, calmly. ‘Td +t. gest that you are the proper person to take , ourself off, sir.” ‘*When it pleases me.I may see fit to do so, bi 5 not before,” the commodore retorted. ‘* You \ id not scare me, my noble border ruffian.” * We’ll see avout that, if I hear any report of your offering this young lady molestation!” the resident of the S.C. M. Co. replied. “ T’ve een known to horsewhip a man for a legs of- lense. Mark my word now! So beware what you do or say. And then Sam turned and strode away. Commodore Burt watched him like a hawk util he had disappeared, then turned to Bessie, Wav was standing a few paces away, her figure drawn up to its fullest hight, in an attitude of indignation. ** Well!” he said, with a smirk, ‘‘ it seems the fats have willed it that we should meet again, my dear, although I littie expected to find you b ck in the West again. It must be my blood- *% -unds have been sharp of scent.” , ‘Your Mormon dogs are of no account. It bias been an easy matter for me to elude them!” with a calmness born of terror. * But it will not be so easy a matter for you tv elude me, however,” he sneered. _ “Bab! I fear you not, even though you are D -se enough for any act. I am not in Utah nw. ‘Bah! you are as much in my power as ‘thongh you were at Salt Dake!” was the reply. *Tho inevitable meshes of fate have woven ee et ee ee ee ee a ——_ —-_-----—_-.?PXX_”X=M— ss «_ —I— OO S$ —————F i —n— O00 eee ee 00 a SSS | SD 2) Sugar-Coated Sam, around you, and you may as well yield. You are mine, and I will have you—or your life. Escape you cannot—experience has taught you that. ou have squandered all your ready cash in scudding from one part of the continent to another, but my sleuths have never for a min- ute been off your track. As a last extreme, | find you in this rough place, engaged in a doubtful and poverty-stricken attempt to get your living.” ‘*Stop! don’t dare to cast any base insinua- tions, you cowardly. wretch!” Bessie cried. ‘‘Though I may have spent all the money my father left me, and though you hold all of his estate under control until [ am of age, | am not even yet reduced to disgrace—least of all, the disgrace of becoming your third wife, you mon- ster! ‘* But listen to reason. You are a Mormon, bred and born. Your father was a Mormon be- fore you, although he had but one wife. On his death-bed he gave you to me, and his prop- erty under my control, until you were of age, with the understanding that you were to marry me. If you refuse, according to the rules of the Mormon Church, your fate will be a terri- ble death. Become my wife, and before you is a rae and happy future.” ** Never, George Burt—never! I would suffer a hundred deaths rather than become the vic- tim of your polygamous designs. Go back to our two foolish wives, and rejoice in the owledge that your last would-be victim was not for you!” _. “Curse you, no/ Ill have you yet, as soon as I perfect my plans. Your nice little thousand acres in Utah shall yet be mine by right of be- ing lord and master.” Then, shaking his hand at her threateningly, “9 turned and left her, striding back toward the otel. ** God 7 me!” Bessie moaned, when he was gone. “It After leaving Bessie, Sugar-Coated Sam re- turned to his tent, and opened the safe with which he was now provided, to make an inven- tory of the stock of dust and cash he had on de- posit for the miners. What was his horror, on opening the strong repository, to find that some one had recently been there ahead of him, and removed every- thing of money value! Who was it? Who was there in the camp ex- pert enough to open the safe without under. standing the combination of the lock? That was what puzzled him, as he knelt upon the ground and stared at the empty drawers. He knew something was to pay—he realized that it would be a hard rap against him, for, aside from his own and the firm’s money, he held in trust several thousand dollars for other miners who had no safe place for keeping their earnings. How would they take the loss? Not very pleasantly, he feared, and yet he knew it was his duty to apprise them, no mat- ter what the consequences might be. But he preferred to do it in hisown way, and accordingly so set to work. Procuring some large sheets of blank paper, he printed witb ink and brush, thereon, the fol- lowing notice, in plain lettering: $500 REWARD! *Roppery! Rorspery! Rospery! “THE above sum will be paid for the arrest and conviction of the party or parties who, within the past hour, have opened and extracied from the safe of Sugar-Coated Sam, allthe money and gold stored therein, during the absence of the undersigned from his tent. SuGar-CoareD SAM,”’ After printing several of these notices, he sallied forth, and posted them up where they would attract the attention of the losers by the robbery. Asa result there was'an immediate excite- ment, and people began to crowd around and ply Sam with questions, particularly those who had bad money or gold deposited in the safe, To one and all he gave the same invariable enswer, that all he knew about the affsir, was that on opening the safe he had found the money gone. : Some few were inclined to believe this, but there is always a contrary spirit in every purty, ought [ had eluded him for good.” and in this case there were a number whose | dark and significant looks expressed a different | view of the matter, had not their words «on- fessed it. : ‘“*I dunno how any feller could git inter ther treasury, without your knowledge,” one miner | remarked, ‘‘as ve sed thar was a combination lock ter yer safe.” | . — rr <r Ce ‘““T don’t suck et in, nuther,’” another said. ‘You probably stole the pile yerself an’ made off with it, an’ then cum back a tryin’ ter stuff us up that some unknown person robbed the safe. Et won’t pass muster, Sugar-Coat!” Sam flushed with indignation. ‘*You are unjust, sir!” he replied, ‘‘ and did I not believe that you do not really mean it, I would be tempted to shoot you. I swear by all I hold sacred that I know nothing of what has become of the contents of the safe, further than what I have told you, and that is all in my power to do, at present. If you see fit to doubt my word, I cannot prevent, nor shall I fly from you or any man’s wrath,” Then turning, Sam strode away toward his tent. No attempt was made to preyent his going, but many dark glances were sent after him and those who were suspicious of him huddled about in groups, and conversed among them- selves. There was evidently no purpose of harming him, until something more definite couid be proven against him. His own partners, Snapp, Hans and McDuff were among those who seemed to doubt bim although they freely admitted that they ha never before had any reason to doubt his hon- esty and integrity. ‘It would not be policy to arrest him until more than simple suspicion points to his ,uilt,” one of the more practical ones said. ‘it will however be well enough to keep a secret watch on his movements, to insure that he does not escape.” Accordingly several miners were detailed to linger about the approaches to the town, while a couple of others were appointed to secretly dog Sam’s footsteps. But there was no need of this, as he made no motion toward leaving Grim Gulch. Just at dusk he sauntered around to Bessie’s place, and received his washing and took it back to bis tent. ‘‘T have heard of your trouble and the suspicion, and | don’t believe you are guilty,” she said, frankly. ‘I hope they wil not bLarm rou.” : “Thank you. Idon’t anticipate any serious trouble,” be replied. ‘* Perhaps it was tub natural they sh: uld disbelieve me, hut they will sooner or later find out their mistake.” After returning to his tent, ard leaving his package there, be went over to the Bella Union, and entered with the sume nonchalance he would have exercised, bad no suspicion been cast upon him. Sauntering about among the tables, he was about to select a seat, when a women sprung forward, and threw her arms inj ulsively around his neck. ‘“Oh! my husband! my busband!” she cried; ‘‘at last we meet after so many years sep- aration.” And this woman was the same one who had accompanied Commodore Burt to Grim Gulch! CHAPTER IV. A VOTE FOR MAYOR—THREE SHOTS, Ir ever a man was surprised, it was Sugar- Coated Sam. He instantly realized that he was the victim of a blackmailing scheme, but how was he to get out of the scrape creditably to himself? He knew it devolved upon him to act immedi- ately and decidedly. ‘* Excuse me, ma’am,” he said, putting her forcibly off, at arm’s length, ‘* but Tullow ) ou’ve got hold of the wrong man!” “No! no! I have not; you aren) Iiistond, my long lost husband,” she sssentid, & ivivg another lunge to get ber arms ebcut +) 1+ ck, ‘You needn’t try to deceive me, iii i Liew you the moment I set eyes upon yor 1 are my Sammy—Samuel Singletoi—e.. fom wail ing to swear to it.” If Singleton was Saum’s 1 ar ¢ Lit of news to the Grim Gulchitcs wer known what his latter cognen ¢) “This is false; itis an #1te 1 | n vil me!” Sem cried, sternly pultivng sci. mm him. ‘“‘T’swear I never saw you te cn, and never want to acain.” “Oh! no doubt about that,” seid a n cocking voice, evd the Mormen Commocore lurt, el- lb wed forward through the crowd. thei had * After consigning your sane wife ton mea- house, to get rid of her. one could herd] «xr er you would be extra unxious to see !« Ve]'- | (ECO AMICE| OY) <S (E(@) al Ea