Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 263 — page 4: what you’re looking at

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

4 nee a. cna oe — - . + es ee eee ss chatter. “I s@e what you're arter. You wanter discolor my el proboscis—but ye can’t cum it—no sir-ee, bobtail wassup! If ther old man’s ever tew home, it’s generally about this time o’ day. Fer instance, thus /” And with a quick feint he put Wild Walt off his guard, and followed by planting a blow be- tween his eyes which unceremoniously tumbled him to the floor. " “Thar! Now jist toss out another consign- ment of that aire liquid lightnin’, an’ then TL be ready to clean out the crowd, if needs be!” Old Bum cried, ranging himself up alongside the bar. ‘I’m dry, lam; too much monotony.” ‘Py shimminy gracious, uff dot veller Walt don’d make you hump, | shall pe mooch maus- daken!” Solomons prophesied. ‘‘He was von slasher.” “And J’m a masher!” was Bum’s retort. “ Boys, will ye bave somethin’—at yer own ex- pense?” The crowd stepped forward, to a man, but when they heard the conclusion of the invita- tion, a blank expression came over their faces. » heer, old gull, ou’re too cute,” one miner wied. ‘‘First ye know you'll git dum nter yer three by seven.” “Whar is the old devil!” Wild Walt roared, staggering to his feet, half blinded by the effocts of the blows he had received. ‘Oh! I see him now!” He quickly drew a revolver from his belt, and fired at Bum, but so little deliberation was a in his aim that the bullet did no harm, at 1. The next instant Bum wheeled and leaped once more upon the Tiger, the momentum of his lange carrying them both to the floor. But, Bum was on top, and the next instant his right hand clutched Wild Walt’s two wrists in an iron gripe, and bis left hand caught the Sport by the throat. ‘Curses on you, let me up!” Wild Walt seem. gaspingly, as he made vain attempts to get free. ‘* Never, until we settle this hyar leetle mat- ter, right where she am,” Bum replied, decided- ly, and at the same time increasing his gripe on e Sport's throat. “ I want ye ter understand, my hirsute hairpin, thet I didn’t cum byar ter be run on, an’ ye might jist as well knuckle under now as any time.” ‘*Cuss ve, let me up! I'll show ye how Wild Walt knuckles under!” ? peer!” Bum returned, af “Ef ye dont ax my parding, aod promise to never raise yer hand ag in’ me ag’in, I’m goin’ ter shet off yer wind jist like as best I knows how,"’ ‘Choke, be cursed! I'll not apologias ner nothin’, 1 ain’t no tenderfoot.” “Not a bit!” and Bum increased his gripe until the Tiger grew livid in countenance; then relaxing the clasp a little. ‘‘How d’ye like that fer instance. Did ye feel flighty?’ ‘Ouse ye, let up! This fooling isn’t what it’s eracked up to be. Let me go, or I'll give yea pointer, when I do get up!” | “Ye can’t git up, tho’,’and Bum chuckled, miy. “I've got ye right whar Me can dge except I say Move! You've either got ter cum tew bime, or by my beauty Pll send ye up ther golden stairs two steps at a lick. Let me tel] ye—i'’m Bum, from Bumtown, and I’m very bum when ye r’ile me. I came heer ter Doomsday, ter propogate a peculiar errand, an’ ef I know myself I ain’t a-goin ter back out. So, fer ther last time, ef ye say ye'll mind yer busi- ness, an’ not try ter.mind mine, I'll let ye up; otherwise I'll foreclose my mortgage on your gullet in short order. Business! Speak quick, er off you go!” A dead silence reigned for the next minute. Wild Walt’s face was white and livid by turns, according as the grasp rmpon bis throat fncreased or relaxed, and there wasa gleam of desperation in his eyes. e bystanders stood grim an‘ speechless, but no effort to help the Sport. ‘‘Come!” Bum called a moment later. ‘‘One, two—” “JT cave!” Wild Wait gasped, a tremor of fear overhim. ‘I acknowledge that you’ve got it pond own way, an’ I cave. Let me up, an’ 1’! rantee to let ye alone.” Bum looked at the man searchingly for a mo- ment, then allowed him to rise. “] want xe to lookee hae he said, as soon as Wild Walt regained hie feot. ‘‘ I’ve let ye up at yer own acceptance of my terms, an’ Ll reckon you have man enough about you to stick we your word.” Pe f I a you) no — aah cg Be eo ,” the Tiger replied, striding te the bara ee ee a ee eee Deadwood Dick’s Divide. ——_—-—- ‘Bad luck to you if I do,” Old Bum growled. ‘“ Ef ye know when you’re well off you’ll keep yer distance from this byar earthquake.” Whether the Tiger really believed this or not remains to be geen; but the expression upon bis face was an ecg Pe good-natured. The man from Bumtown was quite the hero of the hour among the rougher class of miners. After hanging around the saloon for awhile longer, evidently to see if any one was disposed to ‘‘ amuse” him, he finally took his leave. It was a beautiful night outside, the air being laden with the fresh scent of forest and lawn, and the moon flooding all with her mellow radi- ance. ‘ Down at the edge of the lake Old Dan Dooms- day was sitting on the edge of bis barge, as it was grounded upon the beach, while Kate Lau- rel stood near by, chatting with him. It was a habit of hers to come down to the ferry when she bad a spare moment and talk with Dan, for whom she seemed te have a liking. And her bewitching laugh rung ont right merrily when Old Bum came up, He was so odd-looking that he weuld have created a laugh anywhere. “Ob, my! what a funny-looking person,” Kate said, th a low tone to Dan, but, low as she oe. her words did not escap3 the gt Ns the man with the hair and beard of 0 colors. ‘Yas, I’m ther funniest galoot ye evyer seed,” he replied, with a broad grin, is which he mas- aged to expose a pearly set of teeth. “I know I ain’t no great shakes fer beauty, but 'm chuck full o’ fun.” ‘You surely look funny enough,” Kate de- clared, frankly. ‘‘ You must be what they call a one-sided man, because you look to be two men joined together in Siamese-twin fashion.” ‘Yas: I am a one-sided man, but 1 always side with the side that sees one and goes some- what better for success. Ye see, when I was a young man I met my mother-in-law, and the effects was most disastrous. We had a few family words, when she snatched me bald- headed, and by the mystic wave of her hand, imparted two colors to my hirsute appendage— the red illustrating her red-hot temper, and the white, my fear of the female sex. I am s0 *feared o’ the critters, that I’ve been known to run ten mile afore now tew git shut o’ encoun- terin’ one of 'em.” ““1’ll bet you have,” Kate said, with a shrug of her pretty shoulders, ‘‘ You have come toa bad place to remedy your weakness, then, for we girls of Doomsday are very beld and for- ward, and are all looking fer a busband who has passed his meridian and is liable to drop off within a few years, and leave us in ssion of his fluances, so that we may be in position after- ward to ma for love, you see. I’ve been fishing after Uncle Dan here for some time to no avail, and now I do believe I shall have to give your case my attention.” Old Bum smiled and bowed with grotesque ‘‘T see! I see!” he replied. ‘‘ You are quite a wag in your way. And were lI ever so skittish of females, durn my old nose ef I wouldn’t give in that you're the prettiest ga) w’ot l’ve met this long time. So ef ye wanter splice, why jest give me a correct chance, and thar’s no tellin’ but what we may come to terms, pervid- in’ thar’s no mother in-law in the ease.” ‘Which there is, and therefore I must reject ou, my gentle wooer,” Kate averred, laugh- ngly. ‘‘Mammy and I are inseparable, you know, just as Deadwood Dick’s Divide is in- separable from the bottom ef this lake.” ‘Oh! ye know about that, do you? Waf’al, I’m hyar tew investigate thet matter. Ef Deadwood Dick ever drapped any filthy lucre into the bottom of that lake, I’m jiggered ef I don’t suoner or later handle a sheer of et, my- self, sures my name’s Old Bum, the bum of bums, from Bumville. Neow, what d’ye think 0’ that?” ““T think you’re a fool,” Old Dan inte . ‘“‘Ef ye try to raise that gold, ye won't live a week hyar in Doomsday, I tell ye. It’s p’izen business buckin’ ag’in’ ghosts!” ‘That remains to be seen,” Bum declared, grimly. ‘‘Tharain’t enough men in the town er ghosts in the swamp to euchre yer uncle. Besides, hyar’s what will give me a helping hand,” And he nodded to Kate Laurel. ‘* You bet I will!’ she assented; “if you are in dead earnest, Pm your pard in the search, and we will be known as Bum and Laurel, for- tune-huvters. I think we can together raise that Divide, and will show Wild Walt and his mm ee eee —_— ——— eee ee es ~ —_— —~2- — ee gang that we mean busivess from the start, if you are the man I tase you to be.” ‘‘I’'m that alligator, bet yer pret y eyes! an’ bere’s my shake on it,” and he extended hie not ubshapely nor work-hardened hand. And the partnership was formed. CHAPTER IV, ' } CAPTAIN POKER. From that time on Old Bum and Kate Laure} were seen much together, and it was knewn in Doomsday that they were united in the search for Deadwood Dick’s sunken treasure. Wild Walt heard of this, but was careful not to say much in the hearing of Bum, as he really appeared to st-nd in awe of that individual. ut he and his men were secretly in consulta- tion, with the purpose of preventing the bum- mer and his fair partner from accomplishing their object. Whenever an opportunity offered he tried to talk to Kate Laurel, bunt she invariably pre- vented all approaches by treating his advances coldly. Stil he persisted in annoying her whenever he chanced to meet her. One evening as she was sitting in front of the shanty which served ber and her mother as a home, Wild Walt came swaggering along, his mustache waxed out to a needle’s point and his general appear- mn? Sonaid bia hat gracefully as bh et at gracefully as he came up, but Kate did not acknowled y the eataention:” ‘*Ah, good evening, my dear Miss Laurel,” he saluted, apparently not noticing her cold- ness. ‘* Dol you enjoying health this evening?” ‘*'You do; and you will have the goodness to pass right along. I do not care to cultivate your acquaintanoe.” ' “No? Well, lam truly sorry, for, as I have told you several times, Iam greatly impressed with you, fair Katie. I am devotedly yours.” ‘* Please move on, sir,” she re , “If that is your wish, pretty, I will not be so rude as to disobey. But Jet me tell you this: If you attempt to meddle in my business here in msday, which is to recover Deadwood Dick’s sunken treasure, you will find yourself occupying a 68 ies position, I will brook no interference from any one in that matter.” “Tf you think I am afraid of you, you'll dis- eover your mistake,” Kate retorted, ‘I shall bunt for Deadwood Dick’s gold, and shall pay no attention to any threats you may make. In- deed, I look upon you as one of the least of all men to be feared. ‘You shall find out to your sorrow, my beauty. I may as well tell you that I have sworn to you as my wife, and so shall it be! WhenI recover the sunken treasure, then Sidp a castle here as a cage for my pretty rd. {* Monster! I'd sooner consign myself to the bottom of yonder Jake than acknowledge such @ man as you as mv husband. Begone, before I call for assistance!” “Hal You will, eh? Who do you suppose would come to your assistanee? By m se er you tempt me by your words to be even y stealing a kiss!”’and springing suddenly for- ward, he seized h around ber. Kate uttered a piercing shriek: The next instant footsteps were heard ap- eee and fearing an assault in the rear, ild Walt released his hold and turned to de- fend himself. As he did so he was seized and hurled to the ground with almost stunning force. ‘There, you puppy, take that for your impu- dence, and if you give me any change back, IM - you up and dump your carcass into the ake! The words were uttered bv the man who had come to Kate Laurel’s rescue, and who was & person of striking appearance, Of only medium hight, he was compactly yet gracefully built, and dressed in a nobby suit of spotless duck, with patent-leather top-boots,. while a slouched sombrero covered bis head. In feature—or at least what was visible of bis face—be was decidedly handsome, most of it being covered with luxuriant side-whiskers, a sweeping mustache and a narrow goatee, all af a blonde color, as "vas his hair, which fellivn a mass of curly waves down to his shoulder, His eyes were dark, brilliant and magnetic. He wore a belt containing a pair of revolvers. upon his polished shirt glearged a magnificent oe! diamond pin, worth a small fortune im ‘self. er by throwing his arms | JOCKS Come (E (0) »* » eft ah 4. ZZ