Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 296 — page 2: what you’re looking at

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

of ae ira ~T" i. ‘hundred out, she was gal en —_—— Denver Doll’s Drift. Denver Doll’s Drift: | a The Road Queen's Big Catipaign, A Story of Freshet Flats, BY E. L. WHEELER, AUTHOR OF ** DEADWOOD DICK” NOVELS, ** ROSE- BUD ROB” NOVELS, ‘‘DENVER DOLL” NOVELS, ETC., ETC. | CHAPTER I, ONE WAY TO LOSE A MINE. “YAS, they say old Nathan Blob is comin’ ter town, to-night, bag an’ baggage, fetchin’ along his swag, wi’ which to buy up a monopoly over ther minin’ interests, heer in Freshet Flats!” The speaker was a black-bearded, roughly- dressed man, who formed one of a party of half a dozen persons that were seated in Fisk’s gro- cery store, one rainy September evening, in the young mining-camp of Freshet Flats. Fisk’s grocery was the only store in the camp, and consequently was a place of rendezvous, nightly, for characters that did not frequent the Satanello, tne chief saloon and gaming den of town, The speaker was Jim Fisk, the proprietor of the grocery—a man who had followed up min- ing life, since ’49, and who was noted as ‘‘ squar’ from the word go.” Of course occassionally some one would insin- uate that Fisk’s character was not spotless; but then, a man never existed in a rough Western mining-camp, whom some one had not some- thing to say against, and Jim generally backed up any insults with the free use of a six-shooter, which he knew pretty well how to handle, as did bis daughter Fanny. His audience, to-night, was with one excep- tion, composed of roughly-attired and bearded men, like himself, who were plainly veterans in \ihe mines, and who were not afraid to use the weapons they wore in their belts, The exception was a well-shaped young man, dressed in citizen’s attire, with a display of jew- elry, and the air of one who was born te easy circumstances, . His hair was jet-black, and a mustache of the same color ornamented his lip. , Ot face, he was dark complexioned, and of sinister expression; a cynical smile almost con- stantly hovered about bis mouth, The words of Jim Fisk had been addressed to this individual, more particularly. ‘“I suppose ordinary mortals will stand no show, when the monopoly magnate comes!” this sport said. ‘*Reckon you're right, unless you can rope him in with a skin game, La Force.” To which the young man showed two gleam- ing white rows of teeth, in his sardonic smile. ‘‘The boys tell me the ownership of Denver Doll’s Drift is likely to change hands!” Fisk went on, inquiringly. ‘‘ How is it?” “1 judge that’s about the size of it,” La Force rejoined. ‘Those who dance must pay the fiddier. Heard how weran it in to corral?’ ‘‘No. I simply heard that Dolly had been taken in, and done for.” “Well, you see, last evening Doll came into the Satanello, where I and Ben Blye were play- ing eucher—that is, we were playing off; Ben losing all the time, and I winning eavily, in anticipation of picking up @ snap. This Denver Doll stood looking on, an’ when Blye quit, two h to allow she <—s beat the man who put the spots on the cards. **T allowed she conldn’t, and first you know we were at it, bundred dollarsa side. She was a good player, and had sharp eyes, but I knew several points—El Paso skin game—that she didn’t, and as a natural consequence, I won twenty successive games. That made her mad, and she wanted to borrow swag to gamble on. No one responded, so I agreed to lend her a thousand for twenty-four hours, and take a mortgage on the mine. She agreed, and Paque, the lawyer, fixed up a light mortgage, which makes the Drift mine, if Denver Doll don’t come to time, at eleven o’clock, to-night.” ‘** And you won the other thousand?” “Ot course. The man or woman does not live, that can beat me at cards!” _ And the sport spoke with emphasis enough to denote that he believed what he said. Denver Dolls Drift was the only quartz mine yet opened, at Freshet Flats, and was already de- Yeloped into one of the paying leads in that mines, and promised s had di S “ts am old, or by the Hol section of Arizona. All the other claims at the Plats were moderate paying placer or surface ly to play out. Nor i ligent prospecting discovered another | vein of quartz in the hills about the Flats, that guaranteed to pay for the labor ot opening. Therefore the future prospects of the cam depended mainly upon Denver Doll’s Drift, an the noted young queen of Western detectives was considered as being the destined richest per- son in that part of the territory. But, now, according to the statement of Jean La Force, ber prospects were poor, unless she could raise a thousand dollars befere eleven o'clock, that night. This she could bave done, only that her young protege, Little Bill, bad gone t, several weeks before, for machinery,’taking all but a couple of thousand dollars of their available funds witb him. ' It was already time for his return, but there was no knowing exactly what day he would put in an appearance. Thus was tbe loss of her available cash liable to put the girl sport in trouble, as there was yrobably not a man at the Flats, aside from 5 ean La Force and Ben Blye, who could raise a thousand dollars to meet a sudden emergency unless it was Jim Fisk—and that personage and the detective queen were not exactly on good terms, for the reason that she had refused to sell him a share in the Drift. ‘‘[m bettin’ the mine is yourn,” Fisk re- marked. ‘‘I opine if the gal is really broke, that she won’t find no one hyer who can help her out ” ‘‘That’s what I concluded, when I lent the money for so short a time,” La Force chuckled. ‘‘The mine is worth a hundred thousand, if a cent. Pretty good investment, ebf” ‘“Yas: but I wouldn’t lke to be in your skin, if you take the mine away from her!” an old gray baired miner said, who was known as Uncle Job, from the fact that he was noted for his patient disposition. Why not?” La Foree demanded. ** Beca’se ye don’t half know that aire gal, I tell ye. She’s a big-hearted ’un, an’ squar’ as a corner, but she ain’t one ’twill be run over.” ““Pshaw! Would you for a moment imagine that I could be intimidated by a woman?” scornfully. ** Wull, wait an’ see. Ef report don’t lie, you wouldn’t be the furst galoot she’s made knuckle under, Orter go uparound Boise City, ef yo wanter get her pedi # ‘‘Humph! Il) run chances against her chew- in’ off my ear. Ef you’re so much struck on the gal, old man, why don’t you put up for ber?’ Wish to Lord I had the ducats, an’ I would!” Old Job 25 gree promptly and heartily. ‘Pm blowed ef I don’t feel like a fightin’-cock, when I hear a feller brag about beatin’ a gal out 0’ ber money by a skin game? Ef I hadn’t nigh seventy year on my head, I’d like to lick sech a galoot before each meal-time, jest as an appe- tizer.” | , La Force flushed angrily, and sprung to his eet. ‘*Mebbe you'd like to try it on, now!” he cried, savagely. ‘‘l’vea mind to flatten your nose for you, Bigs old loafer!” ‘* Be kee bovee! Don’t tech me, ef I Moses, (ll l’arn ye bet- ter!” the miner cri , also rising. ‘*‘1 don’t want to pick bones along wi’ sech as you, but I’m hanged ef ye’ll git advantage on ’count of my years ‘““ What! you dare to talk back to me, youold fossil? Why, I’ll have to learn you better man- ners!” the gambler cried, and he strutted up to Old Job to slap him across the mouth; but quick as lightning the old fellow ducked his head, and catching La Force by the leg, jerked him down upon the floor. He then stood aloof, and calmly awaited for the gambler to arise, which he did instantly, the back of his immaculate white duck coat consid- erably soiled. | ** Curses be on you! Ill have your life for this!” he roared. *‘ [ll show you who is the best man in Freshet Flats!” He leaped upon the miner with the agility ofa panther, and -went to the floor, La Force on Tee next instant he seized Old Job by the aoe, and preceeded to choke him to death, the ers crowding around and looking on with approval, La Force was counted a bad man at the Flats, and pene se? er his equal as a fighter or In all probability he would have been permit- ted to accomplistt his murderous purpose had other side of thes ——— oe oe no not the door of the store opened, at this junc- ture, and a stranger walked im. Comprehending the situaticn, this now-comer uttereda yell, and leaping forward, jerked the gambler off from his victim, throwing him back upon the floor, when be planted One foot upon his breast and leveled a revolver at his head. ‘There, you infernal whelp, lay there!” hoe cried sternly. ‘‘ What d’ye mean by assaulting a man old enough to be your grandfather?” ‘* Who the devil are you?” La Force gasped, both enraged and terfified. ‘‘ Let me up, curse ous” ‘* Not yet, my fine fellow. When theeld gent says you canget up [’lllet youup. If be wants me to pin you to the floor, ’l. throw my knife through you!” The speaker was a dashing-looking frontiers- man of some five-and-twenty years, with a fine face and figure—the former somewhat tanned by exposure, and the latter attired in a service- able civilian’s suit, with high top-boots upon his feet, a slouch sombrero upon bis head, and @ belt around the waist, which contained a revel- hel and knife in addition to the one he held in and. His face was strikingly handsome, with pearly teeth, penetrating brown eyes, a tawny mus- tache, and a head of brown hair that rippled to bis shoulders like a vail. ‘‘ What shall I do with the tough?” he asked. ‘“‘ Just sing out his doom, and I'll execute it just so sure as my name is Arizona Alfl” All hands started, and looked surprised! It was not an unfamiliar title. Down from the nor’western part of the territory bad now and uben come some miner’s camp-fire yarn, about the dare-devil pranks of a reckless ranger called Arizona Alf—a man said to fear neither man, beast nor devil, and who was a terror to evildoers. ‘‘Oh! yes, it?s me,” he went on—“ it’s me you bet! and 1 reckon someof you have heard of such a galoot. But, | say, pap—what sball I do with this rampaut rooster what was a- shet' in’ off yer throttle?’ ‘‘Let him go!” Old Job replied. ‘“‘I orter know’d better than to try and defend myself. I’m. too old ter tackle sich cattle as bim!” “ Better just give me permission to puta bead through him, so that he can’t hurt you in the future ” ‘* No! I want no murder on my soul,” Job an- swered. ‘‘Let him go. He will do better, l hope!” You bet I will!” La Force retorted. “ Vl finish you, next time!” ‘“You dare to touch him and [ll make you wish you’d never béen born,” Arizona Alf cau- tioned, removing his foot, so that the gambler could arise. ‘* Curse you, I’m not afraid of you!” La Foree cried, ‘If you want to fight squeal out!” “TI am not the party to take the offensive. If you particularly desire to get mangled, I’ve no doubt the avenger of Joaquin Muriete can accommodate you!” La Force grew suddenly white, “You?” he gasped— ** Am the only survivin Beas: of ill fated Joaquin, and have the | of vengeance in my veins. There are peg 3 yet, several of Joaquin’s enemies, or their families, and they are mine!” ‘* Well, if you’re that sort of a pilgrim, I opine ycu’ve come to the right camp to get lynched!” Jim Fisk declared, seeing that Force was rather weakening, “The rope was never made that will lynch a ” Alf retorted jecothss ia a rl there is not square inches enough | Pees 6 camp, to handle me. If you think th 8, and have got the stuff to back it, just trot out your man. Iam ready at all times to conquer con- ceit by the mest approved methods!” Heré was a bold challenge, and every man in the room knew it, but none of them seemed disposed to take it up. la Force had by degrees got around to the ve, and ‘was apparently in- disposed so far as tackling the co zobian was neerned. ‘Your challenge is that of a bully, and not worthy of notice!” Fisk said, ‘Let me tell you, however, that if you pro to remain in this camp, you will bave to exhibit less bragga- docio, or you'll get planted!” ‘If you think so, why don’t you trot out one of your planters?” Arizona Alf demanded, — Fight with nature’s weapons, and I'll give a few lessons!” La Force answered. | He had heard enough of Alf to fear to tackla him with knife or pistol. a For himself, he was a trained pugilist, No Gomicbooks . a | | - —~ %