Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 321 — page 10: what you’re looking at

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

10 <aquene eae a ee u his hands and knees, and then stand upon his head, supporting himself by the strength of his buge arms. ‘‘There! Nothing is better than to have little children mind, when they are young, gents!” Nevada Nell said, with a musical laugh. ‘* Chil- dren that are brought up to obey, are always shining marks in society—that is, ’most always. I will now leave my pupil to his own amuse- ment fora few minutes, while I sell you some of Delano’s Magic Oil. And, stranger, ave pass me over the sum of my wager with Mr. Swill- tub. There, that’s right—thank you. Now, tben, who wants a bottle of the oil? [t isa remedy infallible for the majority of complaints, and will cure, every time. It will limber up stiffened joints, it will cure rheumatism, con- sumption, enlargement of the gall, fevers, cramps, and a thousand and one other ail- ments which the human flesh is heir to. All it costs is five dollars a bottle, and I throw money in, and something else, too,” The Fakir’s valet then stepped forward, and handed her a balf-peck measure, filled with gold pieces, watebes, gold rings, and so forth, which she held im such a way as to be seen, and there were no few empressions of “ Ob!” and * Ah!” The valet then handed bera package of strong envelopes, and taking one, she opened it wide; then turned to the crowd. ‘‘ Now, then, Iam first going to Aa you a bottle of Doctor Delano’s Magic Oil in this package,” she said, ‘‘and I want you all to watch me close, to see that there is no cheating. Next I take a five dollar gold-piece, and toss it up, thusly, into the air, and presto! you hear and see it fallinto the envelope. Next comes a gold watch and chain, six more five dollars in old, and a superb diamond ring — all ropped into the envelope, you see, ‘Now, then, how much will you give me for the lot—bow much cash do I hear for the hum- bug bees have allseen? Of course it’s a genuine bumbug. You don’t suppose ['d go to work and throw as cash like that all for nothing. You bet your life I’m a cheat, and yet I do it right in front of your eyes, and I'll wager there’s not a man in the crowd who will not swear that he saw tho coins, watch and ring go into the envelope, which I will now proceed to seal—and now, bow much do I hear for it? Who has got liberality enough in his heart to offer me a bundred dollars for the Jot, or fifty, or forty, thirty or twenty-five?” ‘*Gol-darn it, I'll give you twenty-five for the Jot,” one man cried. ““T’]] raise it to thirty,” came from a = 2 ee ee ee -<0-2 — _--- — eee Oe —- —— second. “Good! Sold at thirty dollars, clean cash. Here you go, pardner. Now [ll fill up another ckage and want you to watch out sharp that don’t cheat you, for [ am up to such tricks every day in the week. Without such people as I this honest world could never get along.” With nimble fingers she fixed up another package in the same manner, apparently. as she the first. ‘‘ Who wants another dose of Doctor Delano’s Magic Oil, trimmings and et ceteras throwed in? Who wants it, I say?” The stranger who had purchased the first dose had made an examination of the contents of the envelope and found everything as Nevada Nell had’ represented, and at once be- came loud in his claim that it was a ‘clean out-an’-out square racket.” Consequently Nevada Nell had disposed of some thirty or forty of the packages before the discovery was made that instead of being gold, “the coins were old coppers polished up, and the eae watches were but ‘“pinch-back,” and y galvanized at that. © A howl of chagrin and disgust then carried _the crowd by storm, and the Female Fakir was the target for many an evil glance. ‘See hver! I'll sw’ar this ain’t no fair deal, and | kick,” one of the victims cried. ‘I want my money back, I do!” **- You bet we do,” joined in another, ‘Ther eritter is ”. cheat and a fraud, an’ ef she don’t pony over our shekels, she gits ther bounce, you t “Gents, you know not to whom you are talk- ing,” Nevada Nell responded. ‘I warned you if your eyes were not quicker than my fingers, I’d cheat you. So you have only yourselves to blame. Besides, I want you to understand one important thing. I can prevent you from do- ing me injury. I can force the best of you to obey my will.” “Git out! ve can’t do nothin’ o' the sort,” Dandy Dan, from Red Trail, roared. ‘’Ca’se rr made §-villtub stand on his head ’tain’t say- > everybody’sa fool, Yer better stan’ Swill- | ing you eee ree SC —C( ee -— ee ee ee eS_- SiO OE CrCT- > | could have done. tone and manner. “So far as it goes!” Blye cried, angrily. ow eee a eee Deadwood Dick's Dozen. nd eee es eet eee wee } tub on his feet or ther blood will rush to his | head.” ‘‘That’s so—I'd nearly forgotten him,” Nevada Nell chuckled, with a glance toward the giant, who still remained rigidly in the strange posi- | tion she had transfixed him. ‘‘ Hello! Swilltub, _ how do you like it in your reversed perpendicu- larity ?” ‘“ Bully Isaac!” the bullwhacker grunted, without the least show of hesitation. I rather like the change.” ‘‘You see what power over mind will do,” Nevada Nell smiled, turning to the rough and grizzled audience. ** That r fellow is wholly | under my control and will do whatever I say, no matter its nature.” ‘‘Well, ye can’t do nuthin’ to me, you bet!” Dandy Dan snorted, in supreme disgust. ‘‘Swilltub must have a weak spot in his big | pate to let a gal triumph over him that wa ag | Dye really think so, my friend? ell, now, you might possibly be mistaken. Suppos- Bet down on all-fours and seeif you like a dog. I fancy you would make ' can’t bar a real tart-looking terrier.” All eyes were riveted upon Dandy Dan’s countenance to behold a tremor pass over it, followed by a ghostly sort of expression. An instant later be uttered a dog-like growl,. dropped on all-fours, and began to bark, furi- ously, and as naturally as a good-sized canine Some of the crowd laughed, and others looked serious, while not a few took care to get off at a safe distance, so great was their distrust of the remarkable woman. ‘‘Now then, Swilltub, you can turn right with care,” she said, whereupon the giant did so, with alacrity. ‘‘Great howlin’ garter snakes!” he roared. ‘It?s Dandy Dan as bes got the trimmings, for sure! What ye barkin’ at, ye galoot? Whar’d 9 get ther rams?” “Ata big tom-cat, which gouged me in the eye, bow-wow!” the ruffian growled, ‘‘Meow! meow!” screeched the giant also dropping on all-fours, and bumping up his back like acat. “Meow! Vllchaw your eyes out, you snoozer!” ““Bow-wow! bow-wow! Tll chaw off your ears!” Dandy growled—then the two made for each other, as if their lives depended upon the spur of the moment. They met and clinched, and rolled over upon the ground, fighting and clawing like mad. ‘+ See here!” Boston Blye interposed, authori- tatively, as he pusbed forward. ‘‘ There shall be no witchery going on when I am about. Young woman, I command you to unmesmerize these parties, at once, under penalty of death!” “You do, eh?? Nevada Nell retorted. ‘* Maybe you'd like to be mesmerized yourself?” ‘‘ You may be smart but not sufficiently so to mesmerize me, Again, I order you to release these fools from the spell you have put upon them. Disobey me, if you dare!” There was an underiying meaning fo the cap- tain’s speech, and Nevada Nell saw by the fierceness of the major part of the visages be- fore ber, that ber little game was likely to bring her into trouble, did she proceed further with it. Accordingly she said: ‘‘Very well, Mr. Blye; it shall be as you say. ated those fellows are no longer dogs and cats She gave a wave of her hand, and released Swilltub and Dandy Dan from their mesmeric subordination; then said a few words in an un- dertone to ber valet, after which she once more turned to Boston Blye. ‘There! does that satisfy you, sir? If so, I am highly elated,” with evident sarcasm in side u ‘‘That does not settle the matter, however. You will be kind enough to return to the vic- tims, the money you swindled them out of.” “} will do nothing of the kind, sir. If you think to bulldoze Nevada Nell, you'll find you’ve got the wrong pig by the ear. I can stand some things but not everything. They were warned that | would cheat them before their eyes, and need not complain. If you think to scare me, you'll miss it, asI am game as they make ’em, and can put a bullet right home, beautifully,” and the next instant she held her pair of revolvers leveled toward the crowd. “Put up those weapons, or it will be the worse for you!” Blye commanded, hardl knowing what course to take. low any outlaw proceedings in this camp.” ‘‘T am glad to hear it, and shall be sorry to have you force me to drop a dozen or so of you. ‘* We don’t al- ** In fact, | /as squarely as ary other person, sir. er enEEInEEEEIIIEIIEEnEEneEEEmeeememeel rr —— = Et ——— ee ee —— I came here to mind my own business, and if I am allowed to do so, no harm will come to you, If not, there will be some warm old times im Phantom Flats.” ‘‘ What are you going to do, here? We want no magicians or agents of the devil in the camp!” Blye growled, noting that her speech had created a favorable impression. ‘‘l am going to sell Magic Oil, cure deformi- ties, play cards, tell fortunes, and make Sy atl an one steps on my toes, I will return the compli- ment. If I am let alone, I shall barm bo one, There you have it, Put it in your pipe and smoke it, one and all of you.” A scowl of rage mantled Boston Blye’s face, but on the other band a grunt of approval was unanimous from the crowd. ‘‘Thet’s fair, by Jinks!” called out one of the miners, who had been deceived by the packa racket. ‘‘’Long’s the gal minds her P’s and Os it’s none of our bizness, an’ ef we’re fools enough to let her gouge us before our own eyes, We bain’t got no cause to kick,” ‘¢That’s so!” echoed several others. ‘The gal shall be given a square deal, or I’m a liar!” _ “Thank you, boys; I thought you weren’t all as black as Boston Blye. I have one more act to perform, and then will adjourn business un- til to-morrow evening, when you’ll find me giv- ing a whole show at the Fort. This man Barkis bas not yet gained the use of hisarms. A little Magic Oil will fix him.” She opened one of the bottles, and then push- ing up bis sleeves, bathed the distorted arms and wrists. In a few seconds, at her command, he was enabled to use his arms as freely as any person. Nevada Nell then waved her band, and, leav- ing the stand, went to her room in the hotel, to be seen no more that night. After being released from jail, George Gerald accompanied Deadwood Dick and his Dozen to their hidden retreat, and remained there unti) morning, when he and Dick repaired to the cave where the latter had left Agnes Blye. To the disappointment of both, she was no- where to be found. Noteven a trace had been left bebind to enable them to form a reasonable conclusion as to what had become of ber. ‘‘This is a bitter disappointment,” Gerald said, gloomily. ‘‘I hoped to find her here, and take ber under my personal charge,” ‘Well, it’s evident you can’t do it just yet awhile,” Dick replied. ‘She has been spirited away, and our only thing to do is find her,” ‘She may possibly have wandered away and got lost.” ‘No, [think not. She promised to stay here until my return, and would havedone so, I be- lieve that, at this moment, she is in Phantom Flats.” | ‘‘Pshaw! who could have possession of her?” ‘‘T am not prepared to say, but will keep up a terrible thinking. Are you afraid toreturn to Phantom Flats?” ‘By no means, It is my intention to return there at once and keep a vigilant outlook, in hopes of discovering some trace of Agnes,” ‘Very well. Go, but take good care of your- self, and don’t allow any one to bluff you fed Whenever I want to communicate with you I will make my identity known to you, as i shail have to peregrinate about in dis ise,” George Gerald set out for Phantom Flats, leaving Dick toreturn by another route to the rendezvous. On bis arrival in the camp, Gerald mae him- self free to walk up and down the street, which he did to see whether he would be offered any molestation or not; but, though many inquiring glances were leveled at him, no one spoke to him or offered to create a disturbance on account of his interference in Deadwood Dick’s behalf. Feeling somewhar reassured, be spent the most of his time in wandering about town, in hopes of dropping accidentally upon some clew to Agnes’s whereabouts, but up to the hour of Nevada Nell’s little street ‘‘ circus ” nothing but dismal failure bad greeted his efforts, He was sitting in the Fort the same evening at a later hour, when he was approached by the ruffian who bore the sobriquet of Dandy Dan. Daniel scrutinized the Easterner rather suspi- ciously as he approached, as if he were uncertain whether to address him or not. Finally he halted. ‘* Be you ther chap w’ot come heer wi’ Blye, the feller from ’Ginia City?’ be demanded. ‘¢ J came here with Boston Blye, yes.” ‘Well, ye’r’ the chap I wants, then. Poker Kate wants ter see you, ter onc’t.” ‘‘ Who is Poker Kate?’ com “x JOOKS. COM